Urban Roads Facelift – The Long Cry Heard

Miriam Zimba

7 June 2011

INFRASTRUCTURE development is a major yardstick for economic development. Improvements in the road network infrastructure is key in linking business activities that contribute to economic development.

The Zambian Government has realised that among the most important infrastructure, which is directly linked to poverty reduction and economic development is the road network.

To demonstrate its commitment to the improvement of this very critical sector of the economy, President Rupiah Banda last weekend commissioned the rehabilitation of works of selected Lusaka urban roads, at a total cost of more than K300 billion.

Of course, such huge investments amidst limited Government resources do not come without warn or caution.

Mr Banda urged the Road Development Agency (RDA) to ensure good quality service in implementing the project.

He announced that there was no way that the Government could deliver the much needed socio-developmental services to its people when roads remained in a deplorable state.

“Without any question, all contractors and consultants must be told that the people of Lusaka expect good quality roads when all this is said and done. I want RDA to ensure that the works will be of very high standards.

“The days of shoddy works or indeed half finished jobs are over. My Government cannot successfully deliver quality social services to the people when the roads are impassible, and that is why the road rehabilitation project must succeed.

“The MMD Government’s full commitment to the upgrading and rehabilitation of critical roads is unquestionable, and I am proud to announce that some projects are already underway,” he said.

Indeed, contactors in the habit of carrying out shoddy works are a draw back to the much needed good road infrastructure development, for which the Government spends huge sums of money, to improve the living standards of its people.

It is imperative that the large investments that the Government is undertaking towards improving the road network is complemented with quality road works which will ensure long-lasting benefits to the Zambian people.

But road rehabilitation works are not limited to the capital city alone, other major cities and towns have been earmarked to benefit from the national cake.

Shortly before the launch of the road rehabilitation works in Lusaka, Mr Banda was in Kitwe’s Kwacha Township where he launched the Urban Roads Rehabilitation Programme (URRP), to cover the Copperbelt, Lusaka and parts of Central Province at a cost of K1.3 trillion.

Mr Banda said the road works project would complement the works outlined in the RDA annual work plan and would be coordinated by various road sector agencies under the Ministry of Works and Supply.

Under this programme, the Government has selected contractors to revamp roads in Matero, Kanyama, University of Zambia, Northmead, Kamwala, Chipata, Woodlands and Chalala among other townships.

Mr Banda said the road rehabilitation works in the selected areas would alleviate the many difficulties that motorists and other road users experience when using the roads.

The road rehabilitation project was among several other development projects that the Government would embark on for the benefit of Zambians.

In outlining the already embarked on road projects, Mr Banda said the upgrading of the 18 kilometre Ibex-Twin Palm Road at a cost of K57 billion, was progressing well and similarly the construction of tarred roads in Chalala, Zingalume, Kasupe, and the Lusaka South Multi-Facility Economic Zone at a cost of K47 billion were also on target.

This is besides the re-surfacing of the road works on the Lusaka International Airport route which had brought the total cost of all the works to more than K300 billion.

The stretch of roads to be covered in Lusaka was close to 162 kilometres, and this elated Mr Banda, who is of the view that the rehabilitation of roads in townships would give people the impetus to build long-lasting structures.

Opposition political parties, major trade unions ,the Church and the Commuters Association of Zambia have hailed Mr Banda for the launch of an all round road refurbishment project in some selected parts of Lusaka.

They have described the rehabilitation works as a process that will create a new path for economic development.

Zambia Congress of Trade unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba said the road rehabilitation project had come at the height of increased economic activities in Zambia.

While applauding and appreciating Government efforts to facelift Lusaka and other urban areas, many stakeholders have appealed to Mr Banda to scale-up similar efforts in the rural areas to spread the benefits of development.

However, these concerns have not gone unanswered, as major road rehabilitation and construction works are taking place in various parts of Zambia.

There are numerous examples of major road works in the outskirts of Zambia, including rural areas, where road works have either been completed, or are underway. One such road is the K1.25 trillion Mongu-Kalabo Road works, flagged off by Mr Banda in October last year, which was a clear land mark in the Government’s commitment to reducing poverty in Zambia through infrastructure development.

This particular road is of grave importance to the country as it links Zambia with Angola, and the completion of this road project would facilitate easier movement of goods and services between the two countries.

Under normal circumstances, the cost of constructing a kilometre of tarred road would be an equivalent of K5 billion, but in this particular case, the Mongu-Kalabo Road would take up to K60 billion per kilometre, because of its terrain.

To demonstrate Government’s commitment to poverty reduction through improved road infrastructure, the Government obtained a concessional loan from China, for the construction of this road.

Another major rural road project the Government undertook and successfully completed was the 198 kilometre Choma-Niko-Namwala Road.

Other works include the upgrading of the 115 kilometre Mumbwa Landless Corner Road from gravel to bituminous standards, the completion of road works on the Zimba-Livingstone Road, the tarring of the Chipata-Lundazi Road, the 464 kilometre Mutanda-Chavuma Road, which has received K47.5 billion in the 2011 annual work plan for the last portion of the road.

This road is earmarked to be upgraded from gravel to tarmac, and is expected to be completed by January 2013.

Other major road works include the 175 kilometre Mporokoso-Kasama Road, the US$ 28 million 165 kilometre Kasama-Luwingu Road, and the 393 kilometre Isoka-Muyombe-Chama Road.

The Government earlier this year pledged to develop and open up 11 trunk roads.

Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane said the roads being earmarked for opening and upgrading are the K213 billion for the Isoka-Muyombe Road while the Senanga-Sesheke, Mongu Kalabo, Kabompo-Chavuma, and Kalabo-Sikongo roads would also be worked on.

About 27 roads in Kabwe have this year been earmarked for rehabilitation and tarring to improve the road network in the town.

Central Province Permanent Secretary Denny Lumbama said the road works were a reaffirmation of the Government’s commitment to ensuring that roads became a key contributor to the development of Central Province.

Government’s desire is to upgrade all dilapidated roads to decongest major roads in the city amid high developments in various townships.

Lusaka has a total core roads network of 2,240 kilometers out of which 1,340 kilometers are in good to fair conditions and are earmarked for routine maintenance to keep them functional.

And scores of Lusaka residents have hailed the Government for embarking on a programme to upgrade roads in townships that have been in a deplorable state for several years.

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