Government has signed a 25-year Concession Agreement with the Groupe European De Development (GED) Projects Africa Zambia Limited, for the construction of the 85-kilometere Kaluba/Mwenda road in Luapula Province at a cost of US$180 million.
The Kaluba/ Mwenda road will cut across into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and join the 95km Kasomeno/Kaluba road as part of the 180 km road stretch to be constructed by GED.
The construction of the Kashiba/ Mwenda road is the first road project to be implemented under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) platform.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Lusaka today, Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda said the road project will advance bilateral and intra-SADC trade between Zambia and Congo DR.
Mr. Chikwanda said the road project will help create employment opportunities for the local people.
The Finance Minister also commended GED, the road contractor for supporting the development of the road sector in Zambia.
Mr Chikwanda said the signing of the road project at regional level will help open up markets for Zambia’s commodities.
He expressed optimism that the launch of the initiative will cement the engagement of the private sector in public projects to support national and regional development.
And speaking earlier, Road Development Agency (RDA) Chief Executive Officer Kanyuka Mumba said the construction works of the Kaluba/Mwenda road will be financed and undertaken by GED at an estimated cost US$180 million.
Mr Mumba disclosed that the 180 kilometre road stretch which covers part of Zambia and runs into neighbouring Congo will foster economic integration and enhance and accelerate development in Luapula province.
He said the main objective of the road project is to provide a shorter and more efficient route for traffic between Lubumbashi in DRC and Dar-es-salam, in Tanzania through Nakonde in Zambia.
The GED also intends to build four schools, five health posts, community halls, markets, sport and recreational parks and solar street lights around the project area for the benefit of the local people in the two countries.
Minister of Works and Supply Yamfwa Mukanga, senior RDA, GED and government officials also witnessed the signing ceremony of the road project.
we are so greatful on the roads. Can we now invest in Agriculture please. We know you have done well on roads now its time to shift the attention to agriculture, education, energy and tourism
Even Saviour Chishimba pointed in debate that RDA is the nursery for corruption and chief financial of PF campaign.
Out of that $180 million, now even Davies Chama understands that those money where not coming from some ministers private accounts.
DINOSAUR, though you have signed, NEXT WEEK ULE LONGA WAUMFWA!!
WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF YOU DIPPING YOUR LONG WRINKLED FINGERS INTO TAXPAYERS MONEY!!!
YOU HAVE LANDED US IN SO MUCH DEBT, I feel which should call for “THE MERCHANT OF VENICE” ACTION ON YOU!! WE SHOULD DEMAND FOR OUR POUNDS OF FLESH FROM YOUR WRINKLED FACE!!!!
VOTE WISELY 11/8/2016!! VOTE ZAMBIA FORWARD!! VOTE FOR ZAMBIA’S RENAISSANCE!!!!
PUT THE THIEVES WHERE THEY BELONG!!!!!!!!
#MURDERERChagwamustfall!! #PamaFikuyabebele!!
I thank you!!
ONE WONDERS WHY WE ARE SPENDING MONEY IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY TO BUILD THEM A ROAD????
ARE WE such APES NOT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT A FUTILE & ILLOGICAL WASTE THIS IS????
When the AMERICANS BOUGHT ALASKA FROM THE RUSSIANS, it wasn’t because ALASKA WAS BEAUTIFUL, but they had the FORESIGHT Of BOLSTERING THEIR DEFENCES!!
IF WE REALLY HAD SERIOUS MINDS – we should have been approaching the DRC & BUYING THE LANDS WE WANT TO BUILD ROADS IN – such as THE PEDICLE, use the road as the new border!!!
VOTE WISELY 11/8/2016!! VOTE OUT MEDIOCRITY!!! VOTE ZAMBIA FORWARD!!!
VOTE UPND!!
#MURDERERChagwamustfall!! #PamaFikuyabebele!!
I thank you!!
DINOSAURUS CHIKWANDENSIS will soon be signing off next week as we send him packing kwa mununga!!!
WHAT SINS DID WE COMMIT TO BE LUMBERED WITH THIS THE MOST USELESS FINANCE MINISTER????
The most he should have been employed as in that ministry, was as the GARDEN BOY, WATERING & TENDING, the GRASS & FLOWERS!!!
Vote WISELY 11/8/2016!! VOTE ZAMBIA FORWARD!! VOTE UPND!!
#MURDERERChagwamustfall!! #PamaFikuyabebele!!
I Thank you!!
Excellent move i once passed through that road. You can cry seing how that part of Zambia was neglected by the corrupt MMD and RB, seing a vehicle passing that pahthetic road it will take you 2 solid weeks.
You mean same “corrupt MMD and RB…” which are now at the hart of corrupt PF?
Roads, roads and roads. Is that the only sector of our economy. We need a balanced and strategic development agenda.
Luckily P.F won’t be in Government in over a from today, otherwise fossil Chikwanda, would dip into this money, & instruct dull Chama, “give Eastern province to ma 20, 20, 20, & Northern province, tu ma 80, 80, 80”
Should read;
. Won’t be in Government in over a week from today.
Job well done! This is PPP those who are criticising this may not even know the area being talked about! Please toll the whole road from Nakonde to the border not just the part from Mwenda to the border! People just want to criticize everything;earlier on they were saying govt didn’t need to invest so much in roads on its own. We get a PPP they are still bitter or sour!
What is a PPP?
i dont get it Look at where Mwenda is on the map and ask yourself what this pronoucement mean.
Kaluba Mwenda road will cut across DRC how. Where is Kaluba and Mwenda in Luapula province? LT is this in order or this is what P|F intend to do?
@ 6 Kays,the article says “for the construction of the 85-kilometere Kaluba/Mwenda road in Luapula Province at a cost of US$180 million.The Kaluba/ Mwenda road will cut across into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and join the 95km Kasomeno/Kaluba road as part of the 180 km road stretch to be constructed by GED”. From Kaluba to Mwenda (Zambian section) then proceed into DRC from Mwenda to Kasomeno! There is Mwenda in DRC on the pedicle (very far away) and Mwenda in Mwense District(Plateau) of Luapula Province. The latter is the Mwenda being referred to here!
…However,the place they calling Kaluba may just be Kashiba itself which is the border post/village on the banks of Luapula river.
Chikwanda, you mean you have FINISHED all the 7 BILLION DOLLARS KALOBA already?
And now you have to “PRIVATISE” roads when you have only completed 800 km out of the 2000 km you said you were going to complete?
Where is the rest of the money bwana? Is this what you, Lungu and your PF leaving as a legacy for our children?
A life of work and slavery to pay back the BILLIONS you have borrowed and STOLEN? You should be ashamed. Go now with your 30 pieces of silver before a worse fate follows you!
Ma Reporter yamu Zambia nao!! Yayi mwe! What is the meaning of this:
The Kaluba/ Mwenda road will cut across into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and join the 95km Kasomeno/Kaluba road as part of the 180 km road stretch to be constructed by GED.
So much nonsense, ambiguity and cacophony
Ba UPND, I wonder how many of you listened to the press briefing this morning by Mr Chris Akufuna, Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ)’s Public Relations Manager. He said ballot papers for some polling stations in the hinterland of Solwezi will have to be airlifted, as there is no passable road(s) leading to that part of the country. Clearly, the roads are not adequate. From this, you have to learn that the foundation of economic development lies on infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, power generation plants etc. So, even for agriculture to thrive, there must be a firm foundation in terms of infrastructure. Now imagine a situation where farming inputs, such as fertilizer and tractors were to be airlifted!
Yes, roads are important. In the UNIP days Miyombe used to produce a lot of maize which was not collected by NAMBOARD because of impassable and the maize used to rot. If the farmers could not sell their maize because of impassable roads then they could not have more money in their pockets. The connection between roads and money in people’s pocket is so obvious to anybody who knows a bit of economics. there are 80m and this road is viable through toll gates. How can a country refuse a private company to invest in a road?
No one disputes the importance of infrastructure but there must be price controls.
You just can’t charge the country ridiculas prices because it is borrowed funds.
Why should zambians pay 2million/km when the going price is less than 700000 US.
Simply divide 85km/$180m…thats how overpriced these roads are costing us per km. Glad to pass this debt to our children even when this fossil is retiring next week.
You would be excused for thinking this selfsame road will lit with street lamps on either side.
Jay jay it’s 180/85 please for you to get the cost per kilometer. Also add those extra infrastructure to be constructed within the same value
The road is supposed to cost less than $700,000/km but PF are quoting zambia more than $2million/km.
They are stealing the difference. On this deal they have stolen at least $80 million by allowing the contractors to issue over priced bills and PF get paid by the contractor the difference while poor zambians will have to pay back the whole 180 million US.
Spaka. There are other supporting infrastructure being built at that value. Please read the whole story
The PF crooks know this old Dinasour won’t last long in courts of law when the time for accountability comes.
They are using him as a front to enslave the country in debt for generations to come.
The hard-working and visionary government! We don’t change a winning team! Wina Hazalusa Hagain!
Even when you prepare for exams in grade seven, you study all subjects and not just one. It’s time we spent some money on other sectors of the economy
@Tala Konya 5.1 Private, Public Partnership. A concept that allows private resources or organizations and companies to partner with government to carry out developmental projects,
I suppose it must be Kashiba/Mwenda road.