Local Government and Housing Deputy Minister Dr Lwipa Puma says it was pointless for the Road Development Agency (RDA) to continue spending colossal sums of money on the rehabilitation of roads in the Country whose workmanship was very poor.
Dr Puma said it was unfortunate that the RDA who have been given the mandate to develop and maintain Zambian roads was putting the country’s billions of Kwacha in the hands of Contractors who did not know anything about road maintenance and construction.
Dr Puma made remarks in Kitwe today when he paid a courtesy call on Kitwe mayor Divo Katete at the mayors parlour.
His remarks follows a concern Mr. Katete expressed on the deplorable state of roads done by the RDA in the last two years in the City.
The Deputy Minister said most of the roads that have been done by the Agency in the last two years were currently in a deplorable state despite Government spending billions of Kwacha on their maintenance and construction.
He said the RDA has failed to deliver to the people’s expectations hence the need for Government to quickly move in and review the role of the Agency.
Dr Puma stated that in other developing Nations, it took between 50 to 100 years for a rehabilitated road to get destroyed .
Dr Puma said their was need for Government to seriously address the concerns raised by various stakeholders and the Local authorities on the poor workmanship being done on national roads by contractors engaged by RDA.
And speaking earlier at the same function Kitwe Mayor implored government to be allowing Local Authorities maintain and Construct Roads saying the Agency has not lived up to the people’s expectations.
Councillor Katete said the RDA in the last two years has spent over K10 Billion on the rehabilitation of the road network in the City.
He said all the Roads that had been done by RDA among them AmisTafuna, Government Road, Lunda, Zambezi, Ituna Ikolongo and Luangwa Maternity were all in a deplorable state despite the organisation spending colossal sums of money on them.
And Kitwe Town clerk Ali Simwinga said the Urban accelerated Road development programme being implemented by the RDA was a total failure and was compromising the delivery of quality road network.
He has since urged the Agency to revisit the criteria used to engage contractors .
said their was need for Government to empower Local Authorities with resources currently going to the RDA so that they could take over the maintaince and construction of roads in the City.
ZANIS/LK/MKM/ENDS
same story every year
They are very corrupt these fellas
Srap the all RDA and form another wing to take over.We a lot Engineers who can spear head road construction and maintenance.
LSKTIMES what don’t you do a spellcheck or proof read your articles to avoid spelling mistakes like ‘imprssed’.
This is true! RDA is not working according to its mandate. The roads in Zambia are in a deplorable state as though there is no Road Agency! There are spending billions and billions on roads that are not even near the acceptable standards. Zambia will NEVER (nabwekeshapo, NEVER) develop with shuch poor road infrastructure! They should root out all those who are corruptmin giving tenders so that genuine contractors can be given the job!
5. Shalapungu Banton
LT fyama fastele fastele !! That is why they are always Numbala l-)
Ali Simwinga is a Legend!!Still Town Clerk!!I know a councillor who serves 10+ years is called Alderman..A title shud b found for mr simwinga..LOL
at least someone seems to be concerned. a step in the right direction.
I used to think it was a she ati Ali Simwinga-alice mwiinga
For the information to all bloggers dont blame contractors or RDA.blame mmd.what happens is that party cadres are given projects as kick backs for voting politicians.How can you construct a road wihout dumpy level,theodorite,culverts & earthworks machinery where on earth.Dr puma research on your statement.
Jamaco again,congrats.Lwipa Puma is very correct,there is so much corruption at RDA.I always wonder who the animal ACC is,because this is a non function ,ineffective and toothless institution.
Dr Puma keep it up infact most of the projects are given to MMD cadres as some one suggested but to the PF cadres.Who is the owner of a contstruction company who constructed un completed Shangombo hospital three years? check your facts No 11.you check on the projects being done by the opposition in most of the copperbelt towns using CDF.the money is completely gone into the hands of PF cadres.check your facts.The same is happening in Southern province.Chiluba introduced corruption during the MMD convertion in Kambwe where Sata carried a suitcase of money and shared with the cadres.This trend has continued even to day.What do you expect from corrupt RDA to do.We are in trouble.
#Which work has he done by just talking? He should take action against the contractors and let them do the roads at their own cost following standars. We don’t want talking with no action. The RDA is corrupt like most government workers.
:((:((:((:((:((:(( someone needs to donate spell checker to LT, ati “imprssed,” mwa gumula chizungu
EDITOR…….YOUR JOB IS TO EDIT…PLEASE!!!
You see guys, i work for a B to B magazine and for anything to be published, it needs to be signed off by 3 people so that not even one word is mispelled….its only normal that serious stuff must be checked before you put it at mercy for discrimination..
Mwandi LT ignore these critics we love anyway, wrong spellings or what! :)>-**==**==
Mwandi LT ignore these critics we love you anyway, wrong spellings or what! :)>-**==**==
oops! :d
iwe missy daisy don’t compare what you see kubulaya to zed aii…
Viva Puma,
At least you re redeeming your name from the embarrassing selling of your friends in RDA (Resident Doc, Ass) for a few pieces of silver from Kafupi by going after these corrupt road chaps.
A public apology would be welcome.
If you want to know why RDA has failed go to their website and check out their management team.
RDA mucibe!!!!!!! =))=))>:)>:)
RDA naisa !! nchito sizasila sichopeti!!
As much as we would want to say that RDA as failed, I think GRZ also is to problem coz when RDA recommends what to do to the road GRZ says there is no money just reduce the cost, thats why we end up with shoddy work.
RDA is simply being used as scapegoat. The Real culprit is the MMD Govt who consituted RDA and is supposed to offer leadership to ensure that RDA functions as per its mandate.
:((
8-}8-}8-}8-}:-@:-@:-t:-t