Local Government and Housing Minister Emmanuel Chenda has taken a swipe at the Road Development Agency (RDA) for allocating themselves road works contracts that could be done by the many unemployed youths if jobs were to be created.
Mr Chenda said the government had done its job by providing all necessary resources and that it was unacceptable that road construction works were stalling on the basis of lack of funding.
The government through the RDA has embarked on a countrywide Link Zambia 8000 programme for the construction and rehabilitation of Township roads across the country.
The Pave Zambia 2000 project will see the construction of approximately 2000km of township roads across the country using concrete paving blocks and cobblestone technology.
Mr Chenda said the US$348.8 million Lusaka L400 road project was progressing and that the government would engage the RDA and the council to ensure youths benefitted from the projects.
Mr Chenda was speaking during a tour of selected Lusaka roads under the L 400 road project.
“We expected this job to be done by most of our youths so that the jobs are created,’ Mr Chenda said.
Mr Chenda said what was impressing was that the rehabilitation and construction of selected Lusaka urban roads would allow the people of Zambia development as well as conducive environment.
He said the government would continue to focus its efforts on growing the economy.
And RDA has disclosed that the two projects, the L400 and the Pave Zambia 2000 projects were currently running and targeted to rehabilitate not less than 800km of township roads.
RDA executive director Bernard Chiwala said the contract for the engineering design, rehabilitation and construction of selected urban roads in Lusaka was awarded to Avic international Project Engineering Company at the contract sum of US$ 348, 293 which was expected to be completed in three years.
Mr Chiwala said three consultants have been engaged to carry out the design review and the supervision of works in various sites.
Mr Chiwala said despite the works being on schedule in most areas, RDA was facing challenges such as relocation of services such as water pipes and Zesco pylons.
Some of the roads that were toured include Mumbwa road, industrial road, Chawama, Lilayi, Bauleni-Ibex among other roads.
President Michael Sata in September 2013 launched the road rehabilitation and construction which has seen a number of roads rehabilited.
Sad ! Wonder when this will end.Similar to when GBM Wanted to use his position to supply Zesco with electric utility poles.
Iwe Chiwala, to me this US$348,293 only suffices for planning and design, and don’t understand how this activity would take THREE YEARS! Or is someone misreporting here? IF THE APPOINTED COMPANY IS COMPETENT These designs should be ready in UNDER 5 MONTHS!!!
I’m lost. Have RDA awarded themselves jobs/contracts? Doesn’t sound so in the article!!
What do you expect in a country where there’s no leadership?
@Wanu Ngwee, I am not sure what the consultants are doing and what the details are? If its just repairs then there can be a quick turn around. But if its rehabilitation, such works would need levels, cross-sectional at every say 25m and along the centre line and establish control points. This information is vital to establish the width and relative heights of the road to the pavement. If drainage is poor, new culverts have to be designed and inclusion of storm water drains to reduce flooding. All these attributes require survey information which can not be done in a week. Perhaps you do have another way of executing these works.
So if this muppet knows that they have awarded themselves contracts why doesnt he take steps to make this right?
PF IS THE WORST THING THAT HAPPENED TO ZAMBIA AS A RESULT OF CHIVOTE VOTE
Iwe No. 3, stop insulting me. If you voted for a cow dung, that is not my problem okay. you i.diot.
Ulemu ba @Electorate. Kazembe wa Lunda has expressed his opinion. And what do you do? Label him an “whatever”. Not called for exactly
I thought the whole reason RDA was shifted to State House was to put a halt to such incompetence. What does this say about State House if RDA continues to be extremely incompetent? PF, curse to the country.
WHEN WILL KAMWALA SOUTH ROAD BE TARRED KASHI. ITS SO NEAR THE CITY CENTRE YET 3 YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE THE PROMISE WAS MADE. WHERE IS OUR COUNCILLOR AND MP TO PUSH. I HOPE THE RAIN SEASON WONT FIND US IN THE SAME SITUATION. THE ROAD ARE TERRIBLE TO SAY THE LEAST. WHAT TYPE DESIGN TAKES 3 YEARS. CEO. YOU JUST WANT TO CONTINUE STEALLING THE MONEY FOR THE SAME ROADS.
The usual gimmicks. The road will be tarred just before the 2016 elections to try and hoodwink the voters into believing that PF ilebomba. Amano ububi!
I hope ACC can be proactive by publishing the names of all those with dirty hands.Also as govt please be on the look out for those evil people.
Thankyou Hon Minister to bring to light this evil act but continue monitoring and help us as a govt leader.
Why aren’t names of Companies or individuals allocated tenders published?
This is a wrong title for the article. No one awarded themselves contracts. Its very clear that the minister was infact happy that the work is progressing smoothly and that it is on course.
Because RDA is at state house, the title of the article should read: Emmanuel Chenda takes a swipe at State House for allocating itself road works contracts. He should be man enough to call RDA a spade (state house)!!
“RDA was facing challenges such as relocation of services such as water pipes and Zesco pylons” lol…. Honestly, this does not make sence at all. Relocation of services is a routine work on most construction works. How does this come to be highligted as though we talking of realignment of a water body.
The contacts have been awarded to PF cadres, so what?
Title and content absolutely different. If the ministers knows whose offering himself tenders then why waite for acc. Let him report them to acc.
What qualifications do these unemployed youth possess? Road construction is no simple matter. Unless he are talking about footpaths, Chenda’s statement in the first paragraph is foolish politicking.
That’s the problem when speeches are just written for these politicians. Take a minute to think…how can RDA award a contract to itself? Did the speech writer mean RDA employees awarding RDA contracts to themselves as individuals? If so, the law will take its course on them.
Anyway, the whole article here is not making much sense.