Mongu and the Mongo-Kalabo Road in Pictures

1. great government. great PF

   • If monkeys in PF can let some development while they are busy stealing, then we need a proper party to run the country for Zambians to get a country they deserve.

   • If a father places food on the table for his children, it is his God given duty.

     If a government (not PF mind you) builds roads, it is their duty
     and there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING we should thank them for
     because it is our sweat and toil that will be paying back the loans these roads were build with when they could have been built using money we could be earning from copper.

   • Terrible country

     Thanks

     BB2014

   • Th1eves like you Buck Teeth always think people in power are stealing. So why don’t stop and consider what your idol HH will do to the economy of this nation after what he did during privatization? He is responsible for the mess in the mining industry that ECL is working so hard and smartly to put right.

   • So Lynch mob you do not need to thank your father for taking you to school because it was his responsibility? Ungrateful twerp! Do you have a G12 certificate by the way? Learn to be grateful!

   • What is great about construction of a road? These are normal developments that should be taking place everyday. Imagine if Jacob Zuma had to open every road built in RSA? He wont have time for anything else. This is what poverty does to people’s minds. Reminds me of my earlier life when rice and chicken,bread with jam and butter were eaten only on xmas and new year’s day (if you had the mind to think of new year’s day)……not knowing that in other homes this was normal meal on the menu. We have to celebrate for construction of road and wait for the President to come and officially open….God forbid !!

2. This is GRZ money. The MMD had initiated this project. Good work. But Zambians have already made up their minds to vote PF out of power. Your own prophet says Lungu went to consult a sangoma last month yet Lungu has f00led some Christians that he is a God fearing man. Se here m.youtube.com/watch?v=gDqGUDDIg-8 May be the dark dot the prophet saw can explain why we have had so many bad deadly accidents like what happened under Sata.

   • Which Zambians are you referring to. I and my family are voting PF are we from outer space ??

   • @Wajimona, Us the Zambians will vote chakolwa lungu outtttttttttttttttt. Its only you and your family who will vote lungusha Zambia.

   • Mwendoshi imwe tamwakatashe mpaka mukafwe!

   • We are still alive and shall retain our hard working Govt

   • This is not GRZ money it’s donor money plus our taxes at work here and we the people will be paying the loans not the PF monkeys.

3. Very Poorly constructed road actually in this day and age. This is supposed to be a modern road with
   a) Side walks
   b) Cycle lanes
   c) Big hard shoulder for people to stop and admire the river

   I wonder who even designed this thing. Sorry am not impressed at all

   • @2 Kamotomoto..it doesn’t matter who started it! Even MMD found the concept already mooted out by UNIP. What matters is working to develop the country by marshaling resources to finance economic infrastructure like this. Which ever people have resolved to vote PF may not include those who believe in the importance of infrastructure to the general development of the economy. You may be surprised to see PF winning as “you decide alone” and “call yourself people”. @3MMD..this is not just a Zambian road but a regional one connecting to Angola-what is important is its economic significance rather than aesthetics you mention. It was not build for river viewing and other pedestrian related issues which could have added costs for no return!

   • could it be the end of kuomboka ceremony?

   • For the first time MMD Chief Bootlicker has blogged something sensible…I dont know to nicompoomps gave him 2 negative votes

   • I hear you MMD Chief Bootlicker, this is one of the reasons we remain behind with development. Next someone will market bicycles where on that road is the provision for such, they know some people walk hundreds of kilometres, where are the side walks. Some people don’t challenge as long as a road has been laid down it’s good. Think big, think 25 years ahead

   • I NEW SOMEONE WAS GOING TO THINK LIKE ME. THIS ROAD IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ON THIS BEAUTIFUL ZAMBEZI RIVER. IT’S A WASTE. THIS BEAUTIFUL RIVER WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A STATE-O-THE-ART SHOW-PIECE (SHOWCASE) OF A ROAD WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART BRIDGES. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT OUR BEAUTIFUL RIVER WITH IT’S BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE HAS BEEN MADE TO ACCOMMODATE THIS UGLY ROAD AND BRIDGES. IT IS THE SAME UGLY CONSTRUCTION OF THIS CHINESE COMPANY AS THEY DID TO TUTA ROAD AND BRIDGE. REALLY, DO ZAMBIANS THINK INCLUSIVELY OF THINGS LIKE TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS. THIS ROAD SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE ROAD ITSELF…

   • …THIS ROAD SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE ROAD ITSELF SHOULD HAVE BEEN A TOURIST ATTRACTION WHERE TRAVELLERS STOP AND SP AND SPEND SOMETIME TO WATCH THE ROAD AND OTHER SIDE DESIGNS SUCH AS MASSIVE AND GIGANTIC WATER FEATURES, STATUES, RESTAURANTS, WATER CRUISE BOATS ETC- INCLUDING WHAT MMD CHIEF BOOTLICKER HAS MENTIONED: Side walks; Cycle lanes; Big hard shoulder for people to stop and admire the river. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ZAMBIA KANSHI? TAKWABA FYE ABANTU ABATONTONKANYA? THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE ROAD TO MAKE MONEY AND HUGELY CONTRIBUTE TO THE COUNTRY’S ECONOMY WITH PROPER ROAD DESIGN.

   • YOU SEE IF ZAMBIA IS REALLY INTENDING TO TRANSFORM THE COUNTRY INTO A TOURIST DESTINATION, EVEN THE DESIGN OF THINGS SUCH AS ROADS, BRIDGES, PARKS, VILLAGE, TOWNS AND CITIES, COMMUTER TRANSPORT, BUILDINGS- ALL MUST BE SUCH THAT THEY CONFORM TO WHAT ATTRACTS VISITORS TO THE DESTINATION. NEXT TIME PLEASE, LET PEOPLE DISCUS WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN CERTAIN DESIGN TO GIVE MORE IDEAS. TENDERS MUST BE WON BY THOSE WHO PUBLICLY EXHIBIT EXCELLENT DESIGNS AND DESIGN SHOULD BE SUBJECTED TO PUBLIC DEBATE IN FUTURE.

   • Its Chinese built what do you expect? it will last 5 yrs like every other road they build cheap and nasty

   • You are cockeyed. Get your squint sorted out before it’s too late Mr. Bootlicker! Amabilu teyo bane.

   • Just look at the Fly over bridges in Lusaka, don’t they have humps.? Aren’t they for a purpose. In case you don’t know they allow the trains under to pass.
     Begin to think not just bootlicking anyhow.Sha.

   • You are c0ckeyed Bootlicker. Get that squint sorted out before it’s too late! Amabilu teyo bane.

   • Iwe Peter, the river, the road and its bridges make a superb panoramic attraction. Aerial tourist operators will surely make use of this marvel. Learn to appreciate beauty when you see it.

   • very true bootlicker. there is noting to add after what you wrote.

   • You want a state of the Art Road With all the trimmings , its going to cost money isnt it.? you ever heard the line ‘you get what you pay for’ ?

   • You are so right Bootlicker. These Chinese are shortchanging us. If you look at the bridge at Chirundu border post, that was built by the Japanese, it has all those sidewalks, cycle lanes and a hard shoulder. If this infrastructure cost so much, then it would not have cost a lot just to add that. After all, we the tax payers are going to be paying for it once PF is gone.

4. Thanks for showing us these great infrastructure projects in Western Province. It would also be good to hear about how much it has cost our treasury in both internal revenues and loans so that the myth being perpetrated by “divisionists” that all infrastructure development goes to Muchinga and other PF strongholds can end. Thanks PF for soldiering with projects that you found limping by completing them. I remember using a pontoon to go to Sioma but now there is bridge. While there are economic hardships, due to various circumstances some of which are indeed global while some are out of PF’s mistakes we need to give credit where it is due especially on this one which are able to see. Well done on this and could you marshal out similar projects in power sector please!!

   • The trunk roads and bridges in Western Province are all RB MMD projects. The MMD contracted tied loans from China specifically for the Mongu-Kalabo road, Sesheke-Mongu road and the Sioma bridge. PF found these projects paid for and under construction. Be reminded that PF wanted to axe the Mongu_Kalabo road because it was ‘too expensive’ and ‘just a political project’. Mukanga even suspended construction in October 2011. It was saved due to the fact that the road was already paid for i.e. the Chinese had already released the money to the contractor (One wonders what PF and Mukanga wanted to spend the money on).

     The only project PF can take credit for are the township roads in Mongu. Their other promises like a University, Stadium e.t.c have never seen the light of the day.

5. Wonderful although probably too narrow for the way Zambians drive!

6. Zambians why are we fond of negativities even when there is development that needs a thumps up. Surely this project is a plus not only for the PF government but to all Zambians, let’s be proud of what we have achieved as a people of Zambia. Come on guys, why this “Pull him down syndrome” coming from. Unbelievable! Now you’re talking of walkways, cycle lanes (how many cars will be driving on the road to warrant cycle lanes), come on let’s be real. You go and drive the road then condemn, not just from simple pictures.

7. You will never see these pictures in the Post Newspaper!

8. Thank you PF Government, atleast my brothers in Mabumba, upper Njeke, ni ba Kobia will be proud to use it all the way.

   From your friends in Livingstone 2016

   • PF found this road been constructed. It was already paid and signed for by Dr Musokotwane and the Chinese government. This is why attempts by PF government to stop the project in early October 2011 failed.

9. Bad project, bad design, bad insight and bad vision! This is a visionless road design that hasn’t thought of 30 years from now and has not even catered for the walking people of Barotseland. They should have widened it and allowed wider side walk paths and cycling lanes. Trust me walking and cycling will be used more on this road than cars (at least in the short term until so called development trickles to the ordinary people).

   What I don’t understand is why there is usually no collaboration with local communities with Zambian projects. Yes they have no money but only they would understand how they live and how they would utilise a project.

   And I don’t understand why the road has a sudden tilt and steep? This are is flat with no hills at all so why didn’t they flatten the…

   • And people of that lack of corporation with the local community the result is vandalism which has already began.

   • Visionless Maverick. Leave engineering matters to engineers. Don’t display your stvpidity here.

10. …

    And I don’t understand why the road has a sudden tilt and steep? This area is flat with no hills at all so why didn’t they flatten the road?

    And what’s up with the poor PF marketing campaign of ‘development’, mashing up unrelated picture that purport to show development in Barotseland… very poorly edited.

    • That Hill you see is so PF could factor in additional expenses and pocket the difference.

    • @ 9,10 Marverick while I like the road/bridge I am also wondering about that “hump” instead of having a steady rise and fall. Some one should explain why we have that steep hump!!

    • Are you an architect or structural engineer? Give us a break. PF has done well to complete the project. Let us give credit where it is due.

    • I asked the Chinese foreman at the bridge (the bulge is mainly at bridge on the Zambezi) and he explained that because of the river traffic which might include large and tall pontoons going under the bridge. Hope this helps.

    • Bo Mulauli KachikaThe pictures don’t seem to support this argument. First what kind of ‘large’ and ‘tall’ marine traffic will be able to fit in those small gaps where the ‘hump’ happen to be? From the picture that are underneath actually appears to be completely covered with landfill and the supporting pillars underneath are closest at this ‘hump’ junction.

      And I don’t think that’s where the Zambezi river is… I’m from there by the way.

      Even assuming this is the Zambezi crossing and their intentions were good, they should have made a stand-alone bridge at the Zambezi crossing, completely separate from the road. Even made they could have made the bridge the kind that opens and closes to marine traffic. The money was there.

      Again failure to cater for…

    • continued…

      Again failure to cater for walkers and riders on this road and the narrowness of it is a deal breaker for me. Whoever is on the govt planning of infrastructures must learn to engage and consult with the locals and they would mentioned this as a huge component in the design of the road.

      For the record I have seen people walking from Kalabo to Mongu during the dry season and this road would have helped a great deal for them to walk all year round.

      Also for the record I’m an engineer and I design more complex systems that a straight 2-lane road that passes through the plans of Barotseland.

11. Bo Maverick try visiting your village on the other side, you are going to appreciate.

    • Yeah Wajimona, what will I appreciate? The road or the people or other infrastructure development? You kinda seem to know me, because yeah I truly do have a village on the ‘other side’ 🙂

12. Good try MMD though the PF morons are claiming the credit, shame on these losers!

13. We admire structures that should have been routine and should have been there from the yester-years. But Zambia is desperate for structural development that should be built side by side with this or as a priority. Transport (overhaul of the railway system including rolling stock), energy (electricity, water systems, sanitation and sewerage), manufacturing industries going hand in hand with a concrete relevant agricultural policy, information systems (that have statistical components to assess what is needed, how much and where) – THAT, will have a proper bearing on real human development. You only have to move a short distance from that road to see the abject poverty that exists in Western province. I have been there.

14. That ‘hump’ you see, it is called road engineering. If you want to learn, go to school or at least visit Hong Kong and you will understand something about roads.

    • @14 the General, if you have been to school well enough you could have been even humble! What is road engineering to you?? If at all you knew what that is you could have explained . Engineers would have explained the scientific rationale for the design with respect to loads the bridge has to bear and probably the speed at which mounting and descending vehicles have to move in order to may be minimize the dynamic forces on the bridge-just guessing. We are looking for rationale here rather than telling people to go to Hong Kong as if that is only place you find complicated roads in the world- ba “once been there”!

15. But this is only a donor funded road, an international road, so what is the fuss about PF? Our counterparty funding is only a paltry 10%! Commissioned by Mwanawasa and re-commissioned by RB, towards the 2011 General Elections, so what is PF bragging about – as though it came from their pockets? After all, even the 10% shall be borne by All Zambians, and not by PF!

    • Kindly explain what you mean by donor. Is it free or loan?

16. Well done PF,
    A masterpiece of civil engineering.
    Well thought out and executed.
    YOU DESERVE ANOTHER TERM TO COMPRETE SUCH PROJECTS.
    I’m proud to be a Zambian

    • @shakeshake, are you sure or it’s the shake shake speaking?!?

    • Yes all civil engineering was done by foreigners Zambians have never built a bridge over a river, major road or dam in the past 52 years. all done by foreigners.

17. The fact is that in any country we expect to find different characters: morons and geniuses, the poor and the rich, the jobless and the employed, the employer and the employee, thieves and honest people, selfish and altruistic alike. In a democracy, every person has the right to exercise his likes and dislikes. It doesn’t matter whether you have to thank Lungu or Hichilema as good leaders. In each case the characters I have mentioned above will still exist. Whether Lungu or Hichilema rules, none will reach into his pocket for money to build a bridge for Zambians; the people will still have to shoulder the costs. The problem with some of these supporters of political parties is that if they don’t get paid by the ruling party in one way or another, then all the blame for failing to fend…

18. Fantastic road. I hope it is utilised to the full. Economics must change in the region because of this road

19. Where is the bicycle track? Every thing is for the rich!!! Highways are not suppose to be shared with cyclists. That is why we have a lot of accidents.

20. Yes, a decent construction project but at what cost since this project first time around? The moment we start asking these questions will we stop wasting taxpayers funds. If this is going to used by ox carts bicyclists and GRZ vehicles it will be sheer waste of resources. This area should be the main producer of rice; to lead us on a tangible path to diet diversification-we can not depend on this maize.

    • HaJay Jay (Condemer in-Chief)
      awe kwena imwe mubuka fye mulekondema when others are appreciating. Ubutonga mumutwe bwalicilamo, you will never say anything good about what government does. This negativity you have Hajay Jay will not help UPND win elections, in fact, it keeps people away. being critical is good as it should be of an opposition but not even on such development. iwe uka cit criticize na ma fi unya ati awe lelo tayanunkile sana limbi teyandi….

    • You see negativity in my comments because your vision is so shortsighted you can’t see beyond your noise….we have spent close to $400m..what are benefits of this let’s do cost benefit analysis. Don’t bring your useless political parties into this!!

    • It was the plight of the people who live in this region to have Mongu linked to Kalabo by road for one good reason-easy conveyance of people, goods and services from one town to the other. Do you have a problem with that Jay jay?

21. HUMP – The rise (or ‘Hump’) in the middle of the Bridge is simply meant to create headroom for bigger and ‘taller’ boats to pass under. I hope that is the deepest portion of the river too.
    GREDIENT (steepness) of the road appears bad when viewed from one end of the Bridge because from this angle the human eye simply fails to pick the pier-to-pier (vertical stand-to-vertical stand) distance which is going away from the eye (or camera). Had the pictures been in 3D, then it would have been easy to pick. The gradient is actually a gentle one as can easily be seen from the side view in picture No.2 from the top, if that’s the same portion of the Bridge in question. (Ba LT, where is the numbering of the pictures for reference?)
    Having said that, I completely agree with bloggers who have…

    • Cont’d … have noted that this bridge is poorly designed because it seems to be strictly for vehicles only. As far as I know, there are more people on foot and Bicycles than there are vehicle owners among the locals. So, failing to include the needs of the local people will alienate the bridge from them somewhat.

    • ‘Gradient’

    • @21cactus,well noted. Thanks for a mature response and guidance. I now even remember the debate that was there that the bridge must allow the passage of the boat that has an “elephant” during the Kuomboka ceremony – hence that rise or “hump”.

22. Even when things are good Zambians Argue, shake my head.

23. Well done to the Chinese.

    It was PF manifesto to throw you infestors out, but without you no Zambian could build this road.

24. Mmd bootlicker its easy to condemn show us your engineering drawing, rather than shooting down somebody’s work. That was the best for government’s budget. You can even build an airport on that bridge or indeed anything but its the budget that counts. I am sure what we have now is better than what we had, the pontoon. Let us give praise where its due. Condemning everything all the time is insane. It doesn’t matter who does it, be it unip,mmd upnd or pf . Government is doing it for Zambia.

25. The sad thing for PF though is that despite such magnificent projects, it seems the people of Western province will still vote en masse for the UPND. I spoke to a number of people from the Western province about this road and most cynically responded that it was any government’s obligation to do such things and they were still going to vote for HH and not ECL. This is in stark contrast with people from Chama and Mafinga in Muchinga province who have vowed to vote for ECL so that he continues with such good works. How does one explain such striking differences in attitudes towards the same phenomenon in the same country?

    • These people don’t appreciate and that’s the misateke the PF made ” To neglect their stronghold” and concentrate on WP and SP and yet these sons and daughters of Lucifer will still vote for their ka god

26. Looking at the plain, this is an engineering-fit alright, even though I do not like the roller-costa-like features on some bridges.

27. @Buck Teeth Lungu, which end are you barking from? You wizards never learn to appreciate and you will never enter State House!

28. Well done PF and Zambian leaders. I wish you could make a second road alongside this one which should go to Angola and all the way to Chipata! Well done the Party and its Government!

29. Well done engineers too! Well the terrain is just hard to make such a road! And the sand seems not to just go away on the roads! Please make sure that you do yearly maintenance to avoid dilapidations!

30. We should employ the MMD Bootlicker to be sweeping sand off the bridge. That will help.

31. Maikalange its not about voting Lungu or hh its about Zambians first, we don’t care about voting what we care about is the infrastructure which Western province has been crying out, for more than 50 yrs. Ubututu mulesha kumushi, what we want is development not politicking all the time. Mwanawasa built a bridge in Katima and Chembe in Luapula, KK did all he did, Chiluba even sold you houses below market value among other things, Sata did what you are seeing now. Lungu is doing things as well, echalo. You can’t condemn everything nechiweme just because of politics it means walipena.

32. Its actually laughable almost every Zambian on this forum, can talk ill of the engineering project that they little or ve no understanding at all. What were the design parameters, problem solutions, problem analysis etc., before you show your ignorance here, check yourself? Certain things its better just to keep quiet than talking from without. Engineering is not politics where you just wake up and start shouting ati, why that bump or steep hill on the bridge!! I am not impressed. Really!! Bwafya naba zed engineers.

    • @32 Kapoma Kabaso, if you know the answer please explain rather than pretending to be an expert in what you have no idea about? Some of those posing the question on the “hump” may have Engineering knowledge and would like to know if that feature has anything to do with stabilizing the structure or if it is for aesthetics purposes or otherwise! See an informed response from Cactus@23! and learn to respect others opinions! A sudden rise on a bridge should certainly bring up questions as it is unusual and informed minds would like to know the design constraints that could have imposed such a feature on the bridge- not just talking from without;problem statement,analysis ..all theoretical!

33. U will never see this pictures in the post newspaper, even though the paper will be carried this road to now reach kalabo.

    • You mean govt workers in Kalabo will be buying

34. lets learn to give credit were its due why do we have to politicize everything in my view this is a well done job.

35. the idea of a bicycle lane is laughable,i have lived in china for a decade and seen amazing roads with no bicycle lane that road is a thing of beautiful and am sure the people in western province are happy

36. Simply count the number of Chinese foremen and middle managers in these photos surely they are not all skilled chartered engineers..these are mere unemployed workers back in China..once the project is completed they all go back before poaching the local wildlife. There is no skills transfer for labourers…its really sad wake up people from your docility.

37. I will visit the road. It appears so good. Congratulations govt of the day.

38. Thank you Lusaka Times for the pictures. This is ‘Positive’ news for Mongu, Kalabo and the Western Province as a whole. Politics notwithstanding, Provincial (Political, Traditional, Business, etc.) leaders and National (SADC/AU) Engineers, Environmentalists, etc. would need to authenticate/affirm this project and plan to utilise and maintain it for the benefit of the people, the land, the environment, the wildlife, the province and indeed the nation.

39. Well done PF Gov, why cant I vote for you again. VIVA PF, party of Develoments not Utufumo Iyo.

40. Vote PF!

41. MMD PROJECT WELL DONE NERVES MUMBA AND TEAM

42. Afterall is said and done, to the disappointment of many,PF will still be in power after August

43. We are kicking this PFools Government out come 8/11

44. PFools is a failed project

45. Learn to appreciate PF has done alot,wheather HH likes or not PF will win

46. A ‘bridge’ road on water to nowhere while I cry for a simple upgrade of the economic Solwezi-chingola road. Curse politics..

47. Why is govt wasting time building such nice infrastructure for those ungratefull lozis? They have the nerve to call that mall barotse.

48. Viva PF Viva. A good government continues with the good projects of its predecessor.

49. why do some people are ungrateful you can only say something good has been done when it is done by your hh. let me tell u that the upnd and yo hh cannot do what the pf has done for this great nation. if the country was started by the pf we would have no compounds. the pf is not the first government to borrow the money. and all of you job seekers will be shamed and because u know u will lose the elections you have started behaving like u ar a factor , nawakwi is better than yo candidate. we will still vote for the chakolwa than a sting person who would be talking about growing the economy without people benefiting.viva pf u ar few u cannot talk for the majority lozis.

50. Amazing, honestly no African Government can develop a Country the way the PF have done in five years. The Mongu Kalabo road is one of the best roads in the world, I Am very sure that the people of western Province will forever be grateful to the Patriotic Front Government.

51. LET US ALL WORK AS ONE FAMILY IN ZAMBIA> The Mongu-Kalabo road is a piece of development for all Zambians.At last the rich and the poor will benefit from this road. Any development done is for the good of Mother Zambia. The main point is that the people of Western Province have a road that has brought relief and joy together with all other citizens of Zambia. This road may be expensive due to the geographical location but it is a development for Zambia. Let us CONGRUTULATE OURSELVES FOR THE JOB DONE>Thanks Rev FR DOMINIC K PHIRI

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