THE Road Development Agency (RDA) has awarded three contracts for construction of 221 km of the Sesheke-Senanga Road in Western Province at a cost of K706 billion.
And the people of Sesheke are impressed with the Government for disbursing huge resources to upgrade major roads, which have been in poor state for several years.
RDA senior manager for construction and maintenance Stephen Malubila said RDA had awarded China New Era International Engineering the first contract to upgrade 85km from Senanga to Maziba on the Sesheke-Senanga Road at K274 billion.
The second of 70 km stretch from Sesheke at Katimamulilo to Senanga was awarded to China Jangxi Cooperation for International Economic and Technical Cooperation at a cost of K223 billion.
The remaining stretch of 66kms had been awarded to China Geo Engineering Co-operation at a cost of K209 billion.
Mr Malubila said this yesterday when he addressed stakeholders during a sensitisation meeting for the construction of the Sesheke-Senanga Road at the council chambers in Sesheke.
The K706 billion which would be spent on the construction of the Sesheke-Senanga Road was part of the US$300 million, which Government sourced from Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA).
Mr Malubila said RDA would soon award a contracts for construction of two bridges on the Zambezi River.
Once complete, the roads would open up the Western corridor and link the country to neighbouring countries in the Southern African region such as Namibia, Botswana and Angola.
He said the Government had recognised the need to upgrade road infrastructure because of the effective role the sector played in the socio and economic emancipation of the country.
Sesheke District Commissioner Wanyambe Mwiya said the people of Western Province were happy with the Government’s concerted efforts of uplifting the welfare of people through the implementation of development programmes.
[Times of Zambia]
more curruption in the eyes of sata and HH, by the way isnt HH shocked he spent 2 hours on radio phoenix hammering RB , MMD and govt but not even a word in todays POST. this is the news blackout HH has been given by the post
Phew at long last!
This is bringing economic development to the people. This road has been neglected for a very long time but thanks to the working government of RB. Forward with RB!
Lets now wait for the PF/UPND kaponyas to post their take on this.
#4VJ rigger we are waiting for ba kaponya but maybe this time around they are shell shocked at the amount development govt keeps scoring so mauless. Guess they will come up with insults chakuti chakuti
I just wish i registered my ka company ealrier, nga natulyako impiya ishi, damn!
How come there are no local construction companies on this list?? SADC or Zambian Constructors can surely build this road cheaper than the Chinese? Nothing against the Chinese work force, but surely these projects could be done by our Zambia companies, unless ofcourse the work is not up to scratch? Any Civil Engineers out in Zambia, can you comment on this please….
Yes this has been long time indeed and we need a proper road back home.The road is so bad that you can vomitt as you are driving through,well done GRZ
Kuomboka ne nsaka the #7 chinese tend to be the cheapest because of many reasons such as cheaper finance, higher output as they work longer hours, better equipment then most locals are afford. Very few locals local zambian firms have the capacity to do such work. sad
# 9 Positivist pa zed . We need to support local companies. The very few capable should also be awarded such contracts. Why are other countries in the SADC region with the same projects not using Chinese companies. We should look at the quality of work not pricing first. Or why dont the government allow local companies to do Joint Ventures with the chinese companies if they are that good. We need to develop local companies.
#9 Positivist pa zed and #10 Motsepe; Guys we have just started a very constructive discussion here. I totally agree with Motsepe! We seriously need to look at ways of supporting good hard working companies. I am sure most of our people who currently have no jobs will be willing to work long hours and also learn the trade! We have compentent Civil Engineer in Zambia (Dare i not say that some of these are responsible for the infrastructure in our southern neighbours!) and through promotion of local companies, we can learn the trade. Even so, partnership between these big chinese companies and some local companies will greatly help us long term.
I remember years ago in the mining towns, ZCCM had a very highly skilled construction companies who long build some fantastic roads.
#11, Please can you be serious. No Zambian including you can agree to work 18 hours 7 days a week. The Chinese and Japanese who are doing C/belt Roads have a saying that goes ” we wish a day was 30 hours so that we can work for 24 hours and rest 6 hours” you Zambians are the exact opposite of that statement. Please give us a break and let RB and the Chinese Work. Afterall a lot of the localls will be engaged. Let us move on. Next we should award Mongu Kalabo Road so trhat PF/UPND pact should hang beacause no sane person will listen to them. My home town Mbala has benefitted from the Kasama/Mpulungu road. so are most of my Economic Emmigrants in Chalala area who sooner than later will benefit from Chalala roads. Zambians like abandoning contracts midway. Remember Tomorrow Investment. Bye
wooow only that the contracts are being given to chinese!!!!!!!!! i really want this road to be completed. May be we can see the other part of Zambia am told the Zambezi is very beautiful around the sesheke – senanga road. May be one can buy land now that they be a road going to Senanga. Better also for people from Mongu no longer need to came to Lusaka.
Please implement not like the Namwala road which took over 20 yrs plz
RB is the only man. VIVA Earstern Power. VIVA MMD. Western province was not only neglected, but was used as battle field for SWAPO AND PW BOTHA’S Regime, Oshatotwa military camp, Nyango military camp. Mayukwayukwa refuge camp, Sioma Ngwezi military camp, (All for Swapo and Nangweshi refuge camp for UNITA. The provice is one of Zambia’s richest province with high value minerals such a diamond, Topaz, Oil and Tourism. Keep it up RB.
We want good quality roads with a grantee of ten years without potholes
1 -4, MMD dunder heads, who told you making a road alone,brings economic development in any area. how many areas have better roads in Zambia, are those areas developed. Infact this road will just make it easy for briefcase business men to go and cut timber and exploit the poor zambian famer in the area.Better policies is what we want. Not forgeting that the road will also increase prostitution in the border area. I am not blaming the road, I mean we want better policies to improve living standards of our people.From Lusaka to Livingstone the road is perfect,is moze developed,how about chisekese, and kalomo are they developed….people are suffering every were even in kabwe, lusaka, everywere……………….stop dreaming!!!!!!!!!!
WHEN YOU SEE THESE BIG FIGURES IN THE NAME OF KWACHA BEING RELEASED AND PUBLISHED IN NEWSPAPERS, JUST KNOW ELECTION TIME IS JUST ROUND THE CORNER TO FUUL ZAMBIANS.
#12 YOU ARE ARGUING WITH SOMEONE WHO LIVES WHERE WORKING LONG HOURS IS JUST NORMAL. #11 IS TOTALLY RIGHT. WORKING WITH THESE GUYS ZAMBIANS CAN LEARN THE ART, TOO. HOW DO YOU THINK ZAMBIANS MAKE IT ABROAD? THEY JUST FOLLOW SUIT, SIMPLE. SO, IF WE ARE NOT PARTNERING WITH THESE GUYS OR AT LEAST JUST WORKING WITH THEM, HOW ARE WE GOING TO LEARN, THEN? THERE’S SOMETHING FISHY GOING ON WHICH THE GOVT DOESN’T WANT OTHER ZAMBIANS TO KNOW.
#12 I FIND YOU A VERY DULL AND LAZY CHAP. A PIECE OF ADVICE TO YOU. IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN OVERSEAS OR AT LEAST ABROAD (S AFRICA, BOTSWANA AND NAMIBIA) TRY AND VISIT THESE COUNTRIES AND JUST LEARN SOMETHING. UMWANA ASHENDA ATASHA NYINO KUNAYA. MY BROTHER WE HAVE LEARNT (IN THE REAL SENSE). ASK ANYONE. THE PROBLEMS THAT WE THINK ARE PROBLEMS IN ZAMBIA ARE JUST NOTHING WHEN YOU SAMPLE LIFE IN TOUGH COUNTRIES WHERE YOU REALLY EARN YOUR MONEY WHETHER YOU WORK IN AN OFFICE OR DIG TRENCHES OR BOTH.
Now that s a plus
How many of you guys have driven on a road that has been done by the chines 1-2 year after. Kapiri- Serenje no pothole not done by the chines but Serenje to Nakonde, Chirundu road, Kitwe Kapiri less than two years any way they can be less costly but hooo
hohooo
I wonder why we have to bicker about almost everything. Here is a positive item and all we are doing is throwing stones. Have you ever been to Beijing?
#16 Pa Zed Pesu
I very much doubt your sanity! So what will good policies achieve without accompanying infrastructure?