The Lusaka City Council is stepping up efforts to ease the worsening traffic congestion as the city’s more than 480,000 vehicles put growing pressure on its road network.
The measures include expanding roads, diverting heavy trucks from busy routes, introducing dedicated bus lanes and developing alternative links between townships, while longer-term mass public transport options are also being pursued.
Lusaka Town Clerk Oliver Muuka said the number of vehicles in the city’s more than 480,000 vehicles represented about 60 percent of Zambia’s vehicle fleet of more than 780,000, putting immense pressure on a road network designed to serve a much smaller population.
“We are shifting from simply widening roads to separating different types of traffic to improve the movement of vehicles. This is a double-pronged strategy aimed at easing congestion and improving traffic flow,” Mr Muuka said.
He said heavy goods trucks were being diverted to the Lusaka West Ring Road, while the planned Outer Ring Road alignment would provide another route for heavy traffic.
The council’s response follows growing concerns from residents and motorists that congestion has affected their businesses and hours of productivity.
He said mass public transport options being considered included bus rapid transit and high-capacity buses along major routes such as Great East Road and Kafue Road.
Under the Lusaka Decongestion Project, about US$389 million has been spent on upgrading 120.7 kilometres of roads, four flyovers and nine junctions.
Flyovers at Kafue and Longacres and Arcades are already operational, while several roads have been upgraded from two lanes to four or six lanes.
The K1.8 billion Lusaka Urban Roads Project is targeting 40 kilometres of roads, with 15 kilometres expected to have been paved and opened by the third quarter of 2026.
The Council is also working on non-motorised transport infrastructure, coordinated traffic signals, CCTV and intelligent traffic management systems.
Mr Muuka said school terms increased traffic volumes by between 30 and 40 percent, particularly along Great East Road, Kafue Road and Thabo Mbeki Road. He said the Council was working with the Police Traffic Division and traffic wardens to improve traffic flow at intersections, address illegal parking and vending, and relocate traders where necessary.
Marketeer Miriam Mbewe said congestion had affected her ability to get to town early enough to buy merchandise for her business. “Sometimes I get to town after 10:00 hours and by then some of the goods I want have already been bought,” she said.
A worker, Richard Phiri, said he sometimes started his journey as early as 06:00 hours but only reached town around 10:00 hours, resulting in lost working time and, in some cases, deductions from his pay for late coming.
Bus driver Vincent Mundia said congestion increased fuel costs while reducing the number of trips operators could make each day.
Another driver, Idah said trips between Apollo and town had fallen from more than 10 to about five because of traffic congestion, resulting in reduced income.
Some residents and motorists have also called for alternative forms of public transport, particularly commuter rail, with fast trains linking townships to the city centre.
