Mufulira’s UPND Kankoyo Member of Parliament Heartson Mabeta has supported Government’s plan to work on roads in the Copperbelt, North-Western and Western Provinces in order to properly link Zambia to Namibia, Angola and the DRC through Katima Mulilo, Shang’ombo, and Sikongo.
Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Charles Milupi has announced that the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Council has approved a 25-year- Concession Agreement with Nkulu Zambia Limited, with the Southern Africa Business Development Forum as the selected bidder, for the construction and/or rehabilitation of the following international road linkages.
Some roads to be worked on include Lufwanyama – Kankolonkolo – Kasempa Road, Kasempa – Kaoma Road and the Livingstone – Katima Mulilo Road.
Mr. Mabeta said he is hoping that the Government will also work on the Kankoyo-Kasumbalesa Road that links Mufulira to Kasumbalesa.
He suggested that the Mumbwa-Kasempa Road and the Kasempa-Kipushi Road be considered as well.
Mr. Mabeta said the new project will help to link Zambia and ease movements.
“The Kankoyo Kasumbalesa Road is not a political pronouncement. The construction of the Kalulushi-Kasempa Road and the Kasempa-Kaoma Road will not only shorten the distance between the Copperbelt and Western Province but provide access for small scale Mines to the smelters and refinery on the Copperbelt,” Mr. Mabeta said.
“Northwest has a lot of small Mines but traveling from Kasempa and Mufumbwe through Solwezi makes it economically expensive for the smaller Mines to make profit. This road will not only reduce the distance by 200 km but also open Kalulushi to a huge farm block for agricultural production,” he said.
“I hope in the Central Province, the minister will consider the Mumbwa Kasempa Road and the Kasempa Kipushi Road in the North Western. In the Copperbelt, the Kankoyo/Kasumbalesa Road will definitely be considered.”
“What we see in our telescope, they can’t see in their binoculars,” Mr. Mabeta posted on his official facebook page.
Minister Milupi further said that according to this considered package dubbed Development of the Western Province Trade Facilitation Routes inclusive of Resettlement Schemes and Border Facilities Through A Finance, Design, Construct, Rehabilitate, Operate, Maintain And Transfer Public Private Partnership Model, a total of approximately 2,208.5 kilometres of core road network will be constructed and/or upgraded to international bituminous standards and bituminous standards.
The Minister further said that the project has several benefits including reduced travel times and vehicle operating costs, improved safety through the development of the critical road linkages to Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as job creation.
These were drawn by the late Michael Sata. Why do you people like sugarcoating? Milupi will only be praised if and after he practically implements these ideas.
I am praying politicians find another source of corrupt funding other than road construction so we can for once have durable roadworks. I don’t know, maybe the emerging fish ponds can serve as a diversion; someone can pay for salmon and stock bream or something… so we can enjoy quality roads that are well resourced and solid enough to stand the test of reasonable time.
It is important to ensure ZDA build these roads to international standards with proper high quality bordering. No PF era shortcuts. The ZDA officials who oversaw Chingola road paving should oversee this project and not the ones in charge of Lusaka roads. Its a pity the ZDA board was changed while crooked management remain intact. We’ll monitor closely how they perform this time around as their thieving masters in PF government are no longer there to protect them.
UPND has got to show us that they are truly the new dawn government by ensuring better quality works than PF era roads. Otherwise we’ll not forgive them. Remember as per @Steve, ZDA incompetent management and engineers who have so far given us poor quality roads are still in their positions.
What is this Fuss all about,, when these are the same roads that have long been planned to be covered under the Phase Three of the Link 8000 Project?
Were they only going to make sense if they were to be implemented by the PF or what? PF have been working of Phases One and Two. This is only the last and final part of the Link 8000 Project. What is wrong in continuing with good ideas in a county that is only but One?!
I’ve a problem with the implementation of LINK ZAMBIA 8000. Milupi has picked roads for Western Province and NWP leaving only leaving out other important economic roads like Chama-Matumbo, Chipata – Lundazi and Lundazi – Chama and Mumbwa – Kasempa roads passing through Kafue National Park. Give the nation the roadmap for these other roads so that people don’t perceive it to be only convenient for the areas that have kept UPND intact for the past 23 years. Or else I smell the rat.
Iam just wondering weather UPND has lost it’s mind did they promise Zambians roads or to fix the economy.
Strange things are happening in this government, will they achieve anything.
They are not focused on anything they promised the poor Zambians.
“These were drawn by the late Michael Sata.”
OK, UNFULFILLED PROMISES, THAT REMAINED ON PAPER !!!
There is no problem for Zambians to know what has not been fulfilled after 10 years…by the same people despising the new government for not fulfilling promises in 3months. CLEARLY, HYPOCRITes
Corruptly granting tenders to businesses that milupi has interests in.
What is ZDA?
Ati tukalya imisebo! UPND’s desperaging remarks against PF’s road infrastructure development when they were in opposition. What has changed?
I wonder why we can’t maintain the roads through out the country, Do ppl not pay taxs to the Gov to maintain some of these public facilities? if not, where do the money goes? eg we have schools, hosiptals, colleges, university etc to maintain, but it is always an excuse!!! short of funds on this facilities And also isn’t the goverment’s respossibilities to outline and tell the ppl of zambia where these tax monies goes to!!! we have been quite not to question this issues concerning money taxs and its core vulue!!!
This is critical thinking right here. Unlocking the Angola and Namibia trading routes to the sea shipping ports in these countries has a lot of potential for Zambia’s economy as a whole. Merely relying on the Dar es salaam and Durban ports didn’t fully unlock Zambia’s economic potential.
Angola and Namibia are very close to Zambia and with good roads, trade with these countries would be massive. I was waiting to see if this government would realise this potential and Milupi is one intelligent guy who is probably receiving great advice.
As an example I’m aware of black market smugglers who are smuggling fuel and cooking oil from Angola into Zambia and items like Maheu into Angola but they are hampered by transportation issues.