Chingola-Kasumbalesa Road, rehabilitated under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, stands as a testament to the UPND governments commitment to innovative financing for infrastructure development. As the inaugural project completed through this approach, it exemplifies the efficacy of leveraging private sector funds while safeguarding the national treasury. Drawing from the insights gleaned and successes achieved, Presdient Hichilema said government is emboldened to replicate such endeavors nationwide, with the ambitious Ndola-Lusaka dual carriage way looming on the horizon. Notably, this vital artery of commerce has eradicated the perennial travel impediments and financial burdens associated with traversing to and from the Kasumbalesa Border. Moreover, the project’s cost-efficiency, amounting to half of initial estimates, underscores prudent management without compromising quality or punctuality.In extending gratitude to Turbo Ka-chin Consortium for their timely delivery, President Hichilema implored fellow citizens to cherish and protect the infrastructure from any acts of vandalism. He said the vision of transforming Zambia into a seamlessly connected nation is steadily materializing, marking tangible progress towards collective aspirations.
President Hakainde Hichilema commissioned the rehabilitation of the 35 Kilometer Chingola-Kasumbalesa road on the Copperbelt Province.President Hichilema said at the event held at the Konkola Toll Plaza in Chililabombwe, that the rehabilitation of the road has been done under the Public Private Partnership (PPP).
The Head of State stated that the rehabilitation of the road will open up the country’s economic growth as it will ease the movement of traffic to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
President Hichilema noted that the government is fulfilling the promises which were made to Zambians when in opposition and that the rehabilitation of the Chingola/Kasumbalesa road under the Public Private Partnership is one of projects being fixed.
“Part of the goods and services we want to provide to the Zambian people requires money so when there is a return on the investment we can have a claim of profitability that comes out of the Chingola/ Kasumbalesa road,” President Hichilema said.
The Head of State also pointed out that the Public Service Pensions Fund came on board to invest in the road sector so that the profit realised is used to pay pensioners on time.
“We want at any point to have hundreds or more projects of such nature going on at the same time and then we are going to see the effects of that on the economy as they will be delivering profits, jobs, and contracts for people,” President Hichilema said.
He disclosed that the PPP will be part of the core business to develop the economy.
Meanwhile, Copperbelt Province Minister Elisha Matambo said the Chililabombwe- Kasumbalesa road is key to connecting the entire Southern African region to major markets in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Great Lakes Region.Mr Matambo noted that the road will help in facilitating commerce and trade in goods and services and the movement of people.
He thanked the concessionaire, Turbo-Ka-Chin investment consortium for adhering to the vision of the government for delivering a project at a reasonable cost and completing it before the scheduled time.
And, the Workers Compensation Board Chairperson Emmanuel Mbambiko said the Board is confident that the decision to invest in the rebuilding of Chingola/ Kasumbalesa project will contribute to their investment portfolio and spur economic benefits for the country.
Mr Mbambiko said the government will not spend any money under the project model of design, build, finance, operate and transfer back to the government because the consortium will handle all expenses.
And, Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Charles Milupi said the Chingola/ Kasumbalesa road is the first ever road rehabilitated under PPP which will attract economic benefits for Zambians and the SADC region.
Meanwhile, Chililabombwe Member of Parliament Paul Kabuswe who is also Mines and Minerals Development Minister said President Hichilema has brought the spirit of hard work which will help to develop the country.
US$31 million has been spent on the rehabilitation of the Chingola/Kasumbalesa road which was in a dilapidated state.
Give a report on the opening of the upper market in Mufulira also. HH is moving and moving fast! Bravo
You guys from the Copperbelt tell us Where is this road?
The caption says Chingola- Chililabombwe-Kasumbalesa road in Chililabombwe on the copper belt. That is too confusing. These three towns are in Chililabombwe???
Where are PF’s fuel tankers?
I like the fact that they prototyped the model with a smaller project. Lets now do the rest of CB and country at large. Some are very urgent. Livingstone – Sesheke, Batoka Maamba, Mongu – to Park, Mufulira – Ndola, Kabwe – Ngabwe road, etc. Some may not have the volumes in terms of traffic but are leading to productive centers.
I wonder what kind of uninformed citizen are you? Dont you know you are advocating for double taxing? We the taxpayers have already paid for these roads and still do pay. But because government is too corrupt and incompetent and loses and steals our taxes we have to pay road-tolls for a second tax? We are not only trying to justify government incompetence we are bandaging a wound without treating it. Because the tolls will also be stolen!
@From Lazy Lungu to Half-baked Hichilema. How many foreign trucks/lorries use this stretch of road? Thousands more than Zambian owned trucks/cars/lorries and all.
@UPND Cadre If we are solely targeting foreign vehicles -which I know we arent- there are cleverer ways of doing that. They can be made to pay the road tax as they enter the country. Foreign vehicles provide their travel route at the border.
Governing with impact. Slowly but surely things are moving in the right direction. Please , push on.
“….Workers Compensation Board Chairperson Emmanuel Mbambiko said the Board is confident that the decision to invest in the rebuilding of Chingola/ Kasumbalesa project will contribute to their investment portfolio and spur economic benefits for the country……”
That is the brilliance of this GRZ………
We are using zambian money to invest, profits remain in zambia…
Forwadee 2031……….
Others were using money money because it was easy to solict bribes ……….
Forigne money
We’ve an economically-literate government and it is showing in decision-making. Not every decision can turn out right but the thinking behind it is always noble.
So according to this government a PPP involves taking money from public institutions like Worker’s Compensation Control Board or NAPSA and giving it to Chinese companies to build roads then giving concessions to them to collect tolls for 22yrs? Malabishi
Except most of the profits go to the public insitutions as dividents……….
Money is remaining in zambia, unlike times gone when everything was going out of zambia
Government is not getting any loans? The contractors need to be paid also.
………
GRZ needs to look at blocking the Bush routes to DRC……….
The ones used by people like Dejavu to smuggle maize meal to DRC……..
One of the promises was to get rid of road toll gates…. now I see a new one?
Hope it’s a dual carriageway, otherwise ninshi we don’t plan for the future.
I’m a Zambian living in Pretoria for the past ten years. I have never seen the President of RSA opening a toll road although there’s many a road down here. And accompanied by a gang of loafing civil servants and ministers? I guess he has more serious things to apply his time and energy on.
You are right. A minister or even a District Commissioner would have sufficed. But as they a desperate lion can settle for grass for a meal.
While the commissioning of infrastructure projects such as the Chingola Kasumbalesa Road is undoubtedly important for improving transportation corridors and facilitating trade, it is essential to recognize that true return on investment for a nation goes beyond just physical infrastructure development. While infrastructure projects may be considered as low-hanging fruits in terms of immediate impact, the sustainable growth and long-term prosperity of a nation often rely on investments in areas such as manufacturing research and export promotion.
While celebrating infrastructure projects is important, it is equally crucial for governments to prioritize investments that promote innovation, productivity, and value creation in key sectors like manufacturing. By supporting research and development initiatives, fostering a culture of innovation, and facilitating exports of high-value products, nations can truly maximize their return on investment and drive long-term economic growth.