Mutanda-Chavuma Road – a Promise Fulfilled

Susan Zulu Ndumingu And Rosaria Lubumbashi

18 April 2011

During his 2008 campaign trail, President Banda promised the people of North-Western Province that once elected into office, his administration would tar the Mutanda-Chavuma Road, popularly known as M8.

True to his word, the tarring of the 467-kilometre road is underway, much to the delight of the people in the province. K47.5 billion is set aside in this year’s Budget for the purpose.

“When President Banda visited North-Western Province in 2008, he promised, among other things, to tar the Mutanda-Chavuma Road.

True to his word, the tarring of the road is underway for which “the people are most grateful to His Excellency,” says North-Western Province Permanent Secretary Fabian Mumba.

The importance of the Mutanda-Chavuma Road need not be overstated.

The road runs the length and breadth of North-Western Province, connecting the provincial capital, Solwezi to Kasempa, Mufumbwe, Kabompo, Chavuma and Zambezi districts.

As such, the tarring of the road is critical to fostering economic growth for not only North-Western Province, but the country at large.

When tarred, the road will further open up the province’s rich natural resources such as honey, minerals and other products, to international markets thereby further increasing the injection of foreign investment in the area.

Four contractors have been engaged to speed up the tarring of the road: Belga Trading and Construction Company is responsible for tarring the 80 kilometre stretch from Mufumbwe to Kabompo District, China New Era International Engineering Company is doing 79 kilometres from Kabompo to a place called Mwembezhi, while the remaining 75 kilometres from Mwembezhi to Zambezi and 85 kilometres from Zambezi to Chavuma, will be done by China Geo Construction Company.

This swift response by the Government has elated the people in the province who are already reaping the benefits from the road project.

“This project makes a lot of sense. There is so much economic potential in this province such as oil, gas and mining. The tarring of Mutanda-Chavuma Road will, therefore, accelerate economic development in the province,” says Chief Mumena of the Kaonde people of Solwezi.

“With neighbouring Angola now at peace, there is a lot of traffic in and out of the province resulting in increased trade and job opportunities. We are very happy as a province that we will soon have this road tarred,” he adds.

Mufumbwe District is two hours drive from Solwezi. The tarred stretch from Kasempa turn-off to Mufumbwe, is impacting positively on the economic wellbeing of the people in the district.

Laban Kamwewa is a subsistence farmer in Mufumbwe District. He has seen the road at its worst and he is now seeing it at its best.

“This road has brought development. The welfare of my family has improved. Things are getting better and the whole economy is progressing well. We are only asking the Government to provide us with a market where we can sell our farm produce,” says Mr Kamwewa.

Ziko Muke is another farmer, who is benefiting from the tarred road in the district.

“As you know, most of us here are farmers. Agriculture is the main source of our livelihood. We are, therefore, very happy with the tarring of this road. It has now become easier to transport our sweet potatoes, irish potatoes, carrots and vegetables to Solwezi for sale.

In the past, we grew a lot of food which went to waste because of the bad road to Solwezi,” says Mr Muke.

Kabompo District is 325 kilometres from the provincial capital Solwezi. Like other districts in the province, Kabombo is endowed with abundant natural resources prime among them organic honey for which the district is famous.

“The tarring of the Mutanda-Chavuma Road is critical to the development of the district and the province at large,” says Kabompo District Commissioner Dyford Muulwa.

“President Banda’s administration has decided to take the bull by its horns.

People are excited with what the Government is doing. They are looking forward to meeting the president and thanking him for the commitment he has shown to the tarring of this road,” Mr Muulwa.

North-Western Bee Product which commenced operations in 1991, produces between 350 to 500 tonnes of organic honey every year.

The company also produces bee wax ranging from 50 to 100 tonnes. The company’s honey products are sold locally and also exported to Germany, the United Kingdom and South Africa, among others.

Company acting manager, Gilpin Muhandu is confident that the tarring of the M8 road will quicken the transportation of organic honey and bee wax to Solwezi and beyond.

“Transporting the honey on a bumpy gravel road has many challenges such as, frequent breakdowns of vehicles and spillage of the honey. This is a huge loss to the bee keepers in the area,” says Mr Muhandu.

Sixty-four year old Jonas Makayi has lived in Kabompo District since Zambia’s independence in 1964.

He is a witness to the state of the M8 Road from its old days to the current improvements being done to the road.

“We are happy that at long last the Mutanda-Chavuma road is being tarred. The road will bring a lot of development to our area,” says Mr Makayi.

Another Kabompo resident, Joyce Libule, is also full of praises for the Government for commencing the tarring of the road.

President Banda’s promise to complete the tarring of the M8 Road demonstrates his determination to uplift people’s living standards.

It is imperative that the people of North-Western Province and Zambians at large, support and embrace this vital development project.

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