President Michael Sata this morning launched the Link Zambia 8000 Project and the construction of a bridge at Chongwe River.
President Sata said the project marks the beginning of many road construction projects as outlined by the PF government during the election campaigns.
He said the PF government has started fulfilling some of the election promises as can be evidenced by the creation of new districts and the construction of new roads.
President Sata also promised to work on the Palabana and Chalimbana Roads as a way of opening up the country.
He said he had promised the people of Chongwe during the official opening of Parliament that he would deliver a good road network adding that the launch of the project is a fulfillment of that promise.
President Sata has also requested that MP’s should submit a list of priority roads in their respective constituencies in order to speed up the identification of road construction projects.
He said donors are willing to fund such projects but that Zambia needs to show that it has capacity to deliver.
Meanwhile, President Sata has announced that he has taken over the supervision of all road contracts under the Roads Development Agency to ensure efficiency and transparency.
He said the RDA will now not report to the Ministry of Works and Supply but State House in order to address corruption allegations at the agency.
President Sata said the RDA should be weary of some individuals and organisations that may seek road contracts using his name.
The Link Zambia Project will result in the construction of about 2, 290 kilometres of roads at an estimated cost of K7.9 trillion in the first phase of the project.
The Link Project will also go over Chongwe River and connect to Feira right through to Luangwa Bridge.
The road will provide a link to Kasisi, Chipembi, Chalimbana and Palabana among other areas.
My presido at work!!
PF supporters- turkeys cheering for xmas!!!
It is very safe for turkeys in Zambia; they are never on the x-mas menu, you chicken!
It’s good ba kateka, well done. Some haters from UPND will say you are micro-managing, but don’t mind them. Roads are an integral part of this country’s development and from RB’s experience, it needs to be closely monitored from the highest office in the land. We must make sure that no shoddy contractors (aka RB’s sons) get these contracts. Don’t repeat RB’s F1 nonsense
i guess its a positive move for Zambia, lets support the cause and see it come to pass
WONDERFUL THIS IS A LISTENING GOVERNMENT-VIVA PF
PF is delivering well to Zambians the development we have all been waiting for.
My President, viva Sata viva. lets show them that we mean busines not bucking anyhow
This is great. Theres been too much corruption in roads. Lets hope this will yield good results. We ll be watching closely.
Good project but on the issue of RDA reporting to state house ,there i smell a rat. How about just strengthening the system to ensure all is well.? Suppose something goes wrong from state house being the highest office ,where shall we lodge our complaint as citizens? That is where one should think. How about our ACC? No longer trusted but only recognized when you institute a commission of inquiry? Katwishi Mwandini
point
Thats the first thing I thought of. I think in as much as he wants to see incompetency rooted out, protocol should be followed in such cases. Hes the appointing authority so all he has to do is sit on the head of the works and supply minister and in turn he will sit on whoever is supposed to report to him. Anything that goes wrong in that department now we will be thinking, STATE HOUSE.
The systems you talking about have always been there, including ACC and they have not helped us.
This is good point “The King”. You are among few people left in Zambia who can think with their heads! Corruption knows no boundaries,even at state house it can enter.
@ Jinx my good friend , i like your point but listen to this as we help one another to understand governance. All things in Govt works through a system and if the system fails it is subjected to change other wise if it totally fails then the problem is not the system but Leadership. Are we saying we have failed to provide leadership to our system? When Zambians wanted change, was it faces they wanted to change or system=the way we do things? May the good Lord open our eyes of understanding.
@king u made a good point. countries with the best road in africa did not build roads from state house but through the established systems. now mcs does not want to strengthen the institution responsible for roads but he would rather strengthen the man so we can end up with a strongman not strong institution. this is the same thing like the ftj’ s PHI. when the president goes then then its goes with him.
we deserve better
The launch is well come sir , but one thing remains nebulous, how are you going to work with the RDA? Is it you sir to be examining contracts and awarding contracts by taking over the supervision? Sir I think don’t get involved but what you should do is to just supervise. Look at how the RDA gives contract and fire who ever is involved in corruption. Please don’t take over sir.
The burden you want to carry is too heavy BWANA. Let the experts handle otherwise your fingers will be burnt!!!!
Show them sata that FP is working. It is time to work not what some people are saying.
Hey, check who is in the House??? I smell the Sata of the 80s who changed the face of Lusaka. This is at last good and finally we are getting somewhere.
MMD needs to also inherit a great and sound economy in 2016. We finally see light at the end of the tunnel. I was desperately getting worried that by the time we come back to power, we shall have to build again from the low base of 2001 or even worse.
Good job Mr President and keep the eye on the ball.
PS: MMD is NOT a Liberation party like UNIP to die a natural death. Discount and underrate us at your own peril. We are the only true democratic party in the land with a sound governance structure of continuity, the rest are one man show parties. I challenge any party to Beat that.
Is that not how Sata got rich when constructing Kabwata and Avondale? He wants to do the same with the roads…. make it look like its working while stealing. We know the game
hahahaha. u continue dreaming!
How come you are using the image of my former headmaster Mr Charles Shawa, or are you actually him? In which case your utterances would be strange seeing I saw you campaigning for Sata and Masebo in Chongwe.
If you are chief Shawa, as your former pupil I wish you all the best.
We will only say congrats when we see results. We already know you. you are Mr. Promise with No money in our pockets.
NO. 11 .you are just a lazzy person thats why you have no money in your pocket. work hard and have money in your pocket.
Totally agree with #7 and #8: The actual movement of the RDA reporting system to state house is the only sad development. We saw how Bwezani used the same strategy to make a few people very wealthy. I hear there was an architectural person working with RB who, all of a sudden, became so wealthy.
If the president created the equivalent of the UK’s Office of the Government Commerce (OGC) and looked after them very well with full professional independence, they would manage and audit the projects very well at an operational and strategic levels. Just a few individuals to represent each sector would do. Then the organisation’s CEO would report to Cabinet.
Alternatively, within the anti-corruption commission create forensic engineering auditors: people with a strong commercial management (within engineering sectors) who can rip the contracts apart, audit the compliance to specifications and be resourced so well that they can randomly collect samples and report back.
They can then report to Auditor Generals office (for finance) and to other engineering institutions for compliance.
@Kabinda waba Kabwa – I completely agree with you – Can you Kindly write a letter to the president. He will definitely listen to your suggestions! I imagine that he problably is hoping to create such a team at state house but I think it is not a good idea.
I equally agree with you Kibinda wa Kabwa much as I am in support of fighting corruption, we need to let the experts handle this issue but just strengthen the monitoring aspect of it.
Very good Mr President you are trully a man of action. We are tired of bad roads in Zambia .RDA has let the nation down and its high time they were supervised from the highest office of the land.
Way to go Ba Sata! Now lets hear what the detractors have to say. They were saying CNP. Where are they now? Bravo Sata and PF! I have never felt more Zambian than today!
Supervision will be from State House. Meaning all contracts will be scrutinised by State House. That is very good
@ MMD Chief Bootlicker – no one will ever forget how corrupt MMD became, so don’t fool yourselves. It is natural for ex-politicians to become desperate to return to office – see how KK used to jump up and down for almost 5 years after he lost. Anyway, we forgive you bootlicker, you are still in shock. I suggest you link your wounds first befoew licking a finnished party’s boots…. How MMD can even defend itself – under your watch women were carrying their own placentas in buckets, under your watch you would rather buy more chitenjes than the entire human and dog population of zambia than make sure our schools and health facilities were functioning. To suggest you will come back to power proves how arrogant, deluded and selfish and greedy you are!
Good plan; now ensure that all Provinces receive an equal share and lets have good quality roads
Hahahaha
Now contractors can pay the bribes straight to statehouse.
Way to go.I see nothing wrong with reporting to state house.This is just for transparency sake.Bravo we have a hard working president now.
Good project for the country. Bravo PF! However am not too happy with RDA reporting to the President. He can be checking on the progress and let the system just be enforced to prevent corrupt practices.
Nothing wrong he is the chief executive.Zambia has lost money because of dishonest conduct now we can see progress in the road sector mwalacimona bakabwalala
lets wait & see.
show them mr president
Nothing wrong RDA reporting to state house, all what we need is corruption free. The president knows that there are some people form the same RDA are involved in corruption.Mwanya ba fikala pa RDA know giving contract.VIVA PF.
ni pabwato
Please at the map of zambia and see if this road feira makes sense? What purpose will the great East rd do if another road will be parralel to it. The idea of infrasture development is good but we need to understand the execution…..
your thinking is so limited. The parralel road means poeple from eastern can go to chirundu via Chiawa and vise veser without touching lusaka. Is as simple as that and more reason you should research on
Is that not how Sata got rich when constructing Kabwata and Avondale? He wants to do the same with the roads…. make it look like its working while stealing. We know the game…. cutting out the RDA means he now negotiates contracts at Statehouse. Thats how Chiluba made money when importing maize to Zambia. Statehouse took over negotiating the the maize contracts. Remember the Maize Saga
Now where in the world is government business such as contract valuation and road management run form statehouse
It for the reason that once there is proper oversight, it will be free for all. That is what the President wants to avoid. Look at the farms these RDA people have acquired. I am in support of trying something else once the traditional way has lamentably failed. Oh! how exciting it is to be Zambian! Now we are seeing definite direction!
Unless you are crook you will be against this move by HE.Look at what happened during MMD rule.We have a Chinese Company pledging a fake bond and failed to do the task.Ben Mwila’s Wade Adams failed to compete the project yet paid most roads have not been done yet payments made.You shall progress now and more money in our pockets well done PF.The donors are in support of our Govt.
If only all these project were done, using revenue from our natural resource.
Mr president is now a roads engineer.
HE can supervise any Job nothing sinister.We need to stamp out corruption if any thing the President is blamed.
Good move Mr.President .After the president stops supervising RDA whoever will take over can not lie to him if his not doing a great job and so can easily be fired by the president.
#10 MMD Chief Bootlicker i agree with you on the Sata who changed the face Lusaka in the 80’s and on the part of the MMD not dying but i dont think it will come back to power soon. May be if its lucky in 2021 or after. After it restructures itself and if the PF will not do a good job after 2016. For now see the MMD as opposition for at least the next 20 years but on the other hand it doesn’t hurt to have hope like you do.
Action, not words. While others are busy making noise, we are working. In 2016 the works will do the campaigns as people enjoy their rides on the highways in Chongwe, Western, North-Western, Muchinga and other areas. Now wait for how we will use the $750 million cash to build more infrastracture. No regrets for voting for Sata
its a BIG Monkey in the maize field .nothing to be happy about here.what monitoring is he talking about,when corruption is what he knows best.Just a thief calling others thiefs.
PRIORITY FOR ROADS SHOULD BE WHERE THERE ARE BIG INVESTMENTS. HOW CAN YOU HAVE A USD 14,000,000 IRRIGATION PROJECT WHERE THE ROAD IS IMPASSIBLE FOR 6 MONTHS- CAN THE UPND LED COUNCIL IN MAZABUKA PLEASE RESPOND.
They don’t call him Man of Action for nothing – this man produces results. Come 2016 all of you with be mauless by what ba Sata will achieve in a short space of 5 years… Eba President aba – bravo and long live Sata
happy me,the president is doing his best for us his people.we are glad to work with you.
If you won’t be the riches presido in Africa nishi katwishi. Road contracts through state house ?
Iwe Engineer from Australia, Sata is not going to be doing the contraction valuation and other technical staff but merely pushing RDA to DELIVER within planned timelines and within budget unlike before when works that should finish in 6 months would take 5 years and multiplying the costs. Sata is not corrupt. On Sunday he preached at Church that Corruption is the same as MURDER. Wait and see!
VERY GOOD IDEA MR PRESIDENT,but please consider constructing a road connecting mufurila and chingola via kapisha cemetery so that those going to ndola can avoid passing through kitwe.and another one from solwezi road to kalulushi. apela
No one can stop you from giving contracts to your campaign sponsors.
what we need to do is first of all find out why their is this perceived corruption in the award of contracts in the road construction and rehabilitation, as opposed to changing the reporting line. The President should know that he will end up entangling himself if not carefull. i can imagine how many government institutions he is going to supervise. this is pure micromanagement, it better people are made accountable for their actions.
keep the faith
Why take the responsibility of an entire organisation and give it to an individual. This is totally against the virtue of proper corporate governance and organisational controls. This is a higher but not so smart way to steal. Only uneducated people can support this way of governing. Sad thing and sad days for Zambia.
nombafe amenso my President, mwachilalonchinkya ninshi namubaila ibange?? I hope tebange lile bomba
Also include roads for Meanwood Ndeke townships
Meanwhile, President Sata has announced that he has taken over the supervision of all road contracts under the Roads Development Agency to ensure efficiency and transparency.
He said the RDA will now not report to the Ministry of Works and Supply but State House in order to address corruption allegations at the agency.
President Sata said the RDA should be weary of some individuals and organisations that may seek road contracts using his name. EVEN IF AM A FUNDAMENTAL TRIBALIST AND A SUPPORTER OF THE MOST TRIBAL IMMATURE UNDER5 POLITICAL LEADER ZAMBIA HAS EVER WITNESSED IN THE NAME OF HAKAIVOTELA HUIMWINE, ATLEAST HERE I SUPPORT HIS EXCELLENCY MCS..!! BRAVO..!!1
oh! you one of the *****s i know
Too much emphasis on roads. What about other things? We know the catch on roads. It was discovered by FTJ. He even put a defacto(Elias Mpondela) rep at Phoenix Contractor to serve his interest. We could not have caught FTJ by whatever means through the court systems because the money he made did not leave the trails. Those cases that were being pursued were just small pocket money being chewed by other people. Mark my words, road projects are sweet. I will drive on those roads in my lambo smoking my Cuban cigar with my chick on my sidie sipping guiness. I can not wait for that moment …………………..
Well done Mr President. The RDA was the biggest conduit for stealing money. Keep a close eye on it
What does ‘road construction’ mean?
These roads to me seem for Lusaka only. Lusaka is not Zambia. We need to cover the major roads with an economic value first then consider others later. My thots
Barak Obama on his last visit to Ghana said (about African politics and development):
“Africa needs strong Institutions not strong Men”
That’s more like it. All the best Mr President! Eagerly waiting for the positive out come…
Ubobufi ba President, supervision of RDA contracts at Statehouse.How? Any right thinking Zambian cannot support this retrogressive and crooked idea.Is it because of the big moneys involved (K7.9 Trillion)? I hope Parliament can check this unsurping of powers from a legally created Agency under an Act of Parliament. I await UPND and MMD response to this scam.
Please, immediately attend to such issues. Our expensive cars get worn out every time we drive to Zambia. The only benefit I enjoy every time I visit your country is that I do not dose while driving because pot holes keep me awake. Nonetheless, the road between Livingstone and copperbelt is very excellent, in fact one of the best roads in the world. Mr. president, build all your roads according to our standards here in South Africa and, Zambia will be viewed as truly hidden jewel of Africa. The best advantages which Zambia has over other nations in the world are its peaceful friendly people and the beautiful Victoria falls. But your negative attitude towards towards UNPD spoils everything and it keeps most of us away. We end up socializing with Mauritians on their island. Viva HH, peace
RDA to report to George Chellah? My foot. This man moves +vely 1 metre and -vely 2 metres. He is already a bottle neck to the country just worsening this whole thing. Why not fire the minister who has failed especially the PS than assuming responsibility for a technical job where he has no expertise?
Ok I get what the president means supervising the RDA……that he will not contract but seeing to it that RDA delivers. RDA will be reporting to him concerning how the work is going. I think this is ok coz the guys at RDA will see Sata face to face now. Mmmm guys, wapya Munzi.
Institutions, Institutions, Institutions…thats what the focus should be. Strengethen and build the capacity of institutions to conduct their work. you do not take over as a way to ensure delivery. this is a short sighted way of deliverly. Kaunda did the same in the 70s, took over the mines and became Chairman of the Board for ZCCM.Chiluba did the same with the PHI. We know the disaster that followed in both cases. the motive was good and even now, Sata’s motive is noble and a good one-but the method is not because he has essentially replaced the RDA Board and the ministry’s role. He can achive the same by focusing on strengthening RDA to have the systems, checks and balances and capacity they need to do a good job not just for this Link 8000 project for others to follow in the future.
But how long has RDA been existence? Do you think they have not been strengthening its capacity? The issue here is not capacity but CORRUPTION! That’s what the president is concerned about. The money involved is too enormous and even the most noble RDA persons before have been corrupted. So a microscopic view over its (RDA) activities will save Zambia the misfortunes we have seen before.
Congrats Mr. Presido – we need a 6 lane road between Lusaka and Kapiri Mposhi and a dual carriage way between Kapiri and Ndola….
Please don’t forget a web of double decker roads in Lusaka – too much congestion – Therefore, at Kabwe round about, post office junction (joining Cairo) and Kafue round about we need a beautiful designed interchange that will just make traffic flow…and please don’t forget feeder roads that bring food into cities.
But think again about the RDA supervision. I know you have such passion for Zambia my Presido but supervising RDA may cause problems for you…! Have you constituted a team to check the contracts professionally at state house?
We also want the Mwinilunga/Kabompo Road worked on Please.Mwinilunga/Jimbe Road too needs attention.
RDA was formed by an act of parliament. Have the institutional arrangement for the administration of RDA changed to include State House? Road projects are capital intensive and over the years we have seen how these funds have been used to fund polical parties and individuals. Basically they are relocating the place where Corruption will be taking place – Plot 1 .
RB and his Children did the same .
well done bakateke ifi efyo tulefwaya viva pf 2016 i love it
White elephant. Chief deceiver at his best. In 5 years to do 8000 KM of roads at K28 Trillion. Watch the space. Even the 200km road will not be completed by then. They are failing to finish formular 1 roads left by RB in Lusaka and then bring this dream. Please woke up from sleep and see the reality. This country has no financial capacity to work at this magnitude. This is simply CNPs deception like the 90 days theories. Unfortunately his carders are already celebrating as if the work has been done.This is $5billion plus in 5 years and we failed to repay $6.5billion about 5years ago until lenders cancelled it under HIPC. Keep dreaming but nothing on ground will be done. How i wish it comes true but alas nay, it is alie and cooling the heart of dissapointed carders who voted for him.
so Called judge Chikopa why being negative all the time thats why we dont develop you are always driven by fate
All Zambians would be very excited to see the 8,000km of roads done in the next five years. However, our excitement should not stop us from daring to think and analyzing the project and the figures. The required technical capacity to construct and supervise 8,000km of roads in five years is massive and currently not available. The project cost at US$5.6 billion is beyond our current financial capacity…and depending on donor support for this level of funding is not feasible or practical.
#11; where’s your faith?
This is what Mr Sata is made of….(Inshimbi ni nshimbi).No jokes around!! This is a president for the people.I really envy you Mr president….if God can just give me the wisdom like yours.We thought it was normal to live the way we were iving in MMD.As i always say”There is light at the end of the tunnel”.Well done sir!!!
ALL THE CONTRACTS WILL BE SUPERVISED BY STATE HOUSE! WHO IS AT STATE HOUSE? IS IT THE MAN WITH ONLY 7 GUNS SINCE HIS LIFE? LETS WAIT & SEE.
Thats gorgeous Mr. President,we must fight corruption and build our country once more.Don’t listen to those failures the so called oppositions we need people with brains to work with us.People are appreciating our path so far.Cheers ,cheers.
Moving RDA to State House means MORE MONEY IN HIS POCKETS! This is what it means when you chose a poor man to be president of the country. We saw it with Chiluba and RB. It’s now Sata’s turn to get rich overnight.
The potential for corruption at State house is likely to be more damaging than that at a ministry. The best thing to do is to present tenders in the presence of parliament and debate over them and pass a vote. A copy of comparative tenders and voting resolutions can then be published to the media. Now that’s transparency!!!
its just a lie.he has nothing to tell people as their 1 year annivesary approachs.
Zambians are very gullible eh! One man to decide who wins road contracts for the whole country worse still he still owes Ministry of Education some academic papers! No wonder FTJ outsmarted you.
There is no country that can develop without perfect road infrastructure. But lets not just yap about it but employ quality road builders that should do their job well. It will be expensive but in the long run it will be very beneficial to the country provided quality contractors are involved.
My advice to MMD is for them fold their political tent and fade away quietly. They won’t be missed. They should be able to understand that Zambians never go back to their vomit, like dogs do. MMD is history, like UNIP, best forgotten. MMD is wasting it’s life hanging around and hoping for a second chance, it won’t happen. This is truth. Zambia now has PF to watch and hope they deliver. And it’s looking like PF will deliver beyond Zambians expectations to the chagrin of MMD. MMD had the goodwill of the people and technical expertise but who later debased themselves to common thieves and plunderers and failed their country woefully.
Bravo Mr President!!!! Country men and women, lets give praise when things are good! Viva PF. MY vote is for you again….come 2016!!!!!!!!
Lord Voldermort & the rest, supervising RDA has nothing to do with tendering for contracts which is done under ZPPA with a tender committee from RDA. The supervising of RDA is only related to delivery timelines and edherence to budgets. Why are Zambians such aliens to their own institutions of governance? The President just want to ensure the politicallly appointed RDA CEO who is the Director General and his hound of engineers will be in the presidents’ microscope! Contractors in Zambia have connived with RDA officials to over shoot budgets and timelines on road projects with impunity. This is what the president will be clamping down on! Not the nonsense of poor man in state house or contracts at state house. Why do people respond to what they don’t claerly understand. VIVA MCS, VIVA PF!
hey u haters! Let him, its the phobia 4 coruption he has. There z nthng wrong with rda reporting to his office after all if the rda fail you will the first 1s to open ur stinckng mouths that sata has faild, hve you eva mentioned any other persn apart frm sata and the pf as being failure.
Sata is ready for the consequences of his actions so why fear on his behalf you pipo. He knows that if the project fails it will be a campaign issue hence the need to closes suppervise it. And if this one succeeds, HH forget about 2016
As one who has worked in the transportation industry for one of America’s largest toll highway systems, this makes very sad reading. Most of you people on this forum supporting the President’s move to take over supervision of contracts don’t know what it takes and what is involved in administering construction contracts. His intention may be well placed, but the end result will be a disaster. Leave contract administration to professionals who will understand and interpret the specifications, provisions, pay items, quantities and so forth. Is Sata going to hire a team of experts at State House? I cry for my country.
This is likened to stationing more guards at the farm gates to strip search the farm workers as they knock off to stop the thieving of farm produce. State House being in charge of road contracts in RDA doesn’t tackle the underlining problem in the long term; What happens when the master is away? We will be addressing the same problem again in 5 years time.
This problem can only be tackled with systemic solutions, Sata is missing a great opportunity here to restructure RDA’s contract procurement and tender procedures. Even in developed countries corruption is evident in the form of hidden cartels and organised bidding by big construction firms; at least they have put measures and systems in place to reduce this….why not consult them for lasting solutions.
As someone from the construction project management sector, I find this laughable and an insult to the industry….what can State House know about efficiency and transparency of construction contracts do they have Project Mangers, Quantity Surveyors and Cost Managers.
If you want value added projects delivered within time and to specification; there are professions that deal with this…why not create a quasi-independent government body of construction managers and inspectors with extensive powers to oversee such construction road projects who have the government’s interests at heart.
Because of dishonest conduct the President has done a noble thing You don’t need an Engeering degree to supervise a road construction you can tell the quality pace equipment employed. Labour misuse and corruption some of you are against because you are not honest.Please your excellency clean the system
Add Value, stop undressing yourself in public. Am in the same sector as Jay Jay and I couldn’t agree more.
How is he going to clean the system and for how long? If you knew anything about value engineering or management of construction projects…I would have responded to you but I’ll let your sheer ignorance get the best of you.
Wake up!
these were MMD projects nothing to be excited ba PF. CNP is a chameleon you will see…hw can RDA be reporting to state….fwaka yeka yeka iyi.weed at work
At the end of the day he has to shoulder the blame I would do the same.You will see how this project will move I know HE he is very productive.He will not sign blank cheques nor pay for services not done ala elolwanya
Who is chimbwi no plan now????
Well done HE we salute you this is good move may the Lord grant you wisdoms .Fellow Zambians let us build our country.
ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT THIS IS VERY GOOD NEWS. THIS IS BEEN LONG OVERDUE. BUT BETTER STARTED LATE THAN NEVER. FOR THE NEXT 4 YEARS ZAMBIA WILL BE VERY BUSY CONSTRUCTING ROADS. MORE VOTES FOR PF.
Twalumbu ba president
Makes it very easy for him to steal cash, he can now do anything with the money for road projects as everything now starts and ends with him.
What a thief!
Iwe Ukwa please leave people to report through normal well established channels ala
Praise is to be given where it due. This is a good thing and needs our support. But common why should it take the whole President to supervise road works when he is not even an engineer? For now we won’t here of any corruption, but i can assure you this will only come to light once he leaves office. Awe ba President leave experts to do that job. Why undo the good intentions? No one will question the awarding of contracts since it will be coming from the President. Surely ba PF imwe mwakulasumina fye fyonse ifyalanda ba President? Mr Sata is not a saint. No quarrel with road works, but RDA to State house?? Awe bane, this actually is encouraging corruption. Let’s not wait until things things go bad then we start cleaning up the mess. PF advise the Pressident adequately.
Am i missing some thing ? Will roads alone develop Zambia ? were are the factories ? were are the affordable housings ? me thinks developing roads is were it is easeir to steal GRZ manee, why this road building frenzy ?
Roads open areas to development. With good access, investors will construct factories. Simple!
The country will be jointly hosting the UN tourism conference next year and Mobility is one of the key factors to take into account. This is a good start for any forward thinker. Not last minute plans as is the norm in most GRZ programmes.
This is pure lumpen radicalism. Despots always have common characteristics. One trait is the stupid belief that all their intentions are noble and only they have peoples interests at heart. Amin, Hitler, Jammeh, Mugabe, Kim, Pol Pot etc all had this characteristic. Here we have an avowed tribalism, a person who deposited a government ministry’s money in his personal account usurping the functions of an Agency created through an Act of parliament. Sata is not immune from corrupt activities and he should not be cheered on or encouraged to mutilate the institutions of our country.
Some people are so silly, that they can not even see progress. This is just one major project the President has embarked on, there are more to come and you doubting Thomases you will remain wondering whilst the country move on. PF means well and it will develop the country, create jobs, make our country good and make us proud.
Ok.Now he is becoming the Man of Actions
Well said and sounds good, we will keep our ears and eyes open, and hopefully this pronoucement has not been prepared by international dynamics e.g. the IMF or the architects of the Euro bond because these biased dynamics have controlling stakes in Zambia ‘s internal affairs on account of debts which Zambia incurrs with external creditors. Despite the PF’s manifesto, as long as its leadership is compromised its actions are always curtailed by these international bodies correctly known as ruminants of capitalism.The constituencies in Zambia are classified as simple spectators whose interests are pushed to the peripherals of development. Shame, viva HH, LONG LIVE . Peace to all Zamians.
Be very careful people defferentiate between mere pronouncements and the actual condition which has not yet followed from what which has been pledged as an expected cosequence. Do not jump the gun, we must wait until its dawn and after that, we can assess the situation. However, granted the track record of PF, we can correctly argue that its behaviour in the past can be used to predict its future performance. With this at our disposal, we can correctly say that PF should not be trusted. Viva HH, UNPD and peace to all Zambians.
Good project! i hope the said roads will have tollgates for rasing funds for maintance costs in future.
I hope that the road is not aligned through the Lower Zambezi National Park because that will be end of the park!!
The road project is obviously a big goose that will lay golden eggs and many people want to share those eggs. Moving the RDA to State House is a mere smoke screen for dipping fingers into the honey jar!! Zambians, you should not be so naive and gullible!! You must know who you are dealing with.
Quote “He said donors are willing to fund such projects but that Zambia needs to show that it has capacity to deliver” Is the project funding donor driven?
He may as well transfer BOZ and Ministry of Finance to State house to be supervised by George Chella.
Intead of being viro bloggers with “negative know how” I would suggest we start communities of development in the areas where the roads are going. The point is are areas being opened for further development by the private sector in form of accommodation, entertainment, trade, etc. Dont just stop at critisising.
@96- the point is areas are being opened
Welcome move. Some observations made against this move are, to say the least, simply shortsighted. The President has not taken over the technical/professional aspects of the RDA; only that the managers of the institution will now be administravely accountable to the Office of the President. All the tendering and other technical/professional remain the responsibility of requisite experts at RDA. So, may the critics of this welcome move please spare us their so-called expert advice! I pray the President also casts his net to ZRA and RTSA. There is quite some root in these two institutions, which needs to be sorted out.
Good move,Mr President, although being a Professional myself I wonder how the President will be dividing his time.Governing a Nation is not as simple as counting one to three.It’s a lot of work.If he sets his energy on road works,(the project which I’am so confident he can do, and which are so important to the growth of our economy) then other sectors of the economy are likely to suffer.The challenge to all Zambians is that let us all, at individual level chose never to be lazy and corrupt, and not let one person,our President, put the whole burden of fighting corruption on his shoulders (alone).I support the move, but this is honestly too much work for him.I PRAY AND WISH HIM ALL THE BEST AND LONG LIFE.BRILLIANT MOVE!!!