The Road Development Agency (RDA) says it is happy that traffic has started flowing on the Lusaka-Chirundu road following the construction of a temporary diversion, after a culvert on the road was damaged last week causing the washing away of a portion of the road.
The RDA says it is awaiting a report expected to be available by March 27 Friday this week from RDA Consultant, Brain Cohulhun to ascertain the cost of the damaged portion and consequent re-designing of the road.
RDA Public Relations Manager Loyce Saili, who went to check on the ground said that the road is now usable by the traveling motorists, She told reporters at the site in Chirundu yesterday that she is happy that there are no marooned vehicles on the either side of the road.
Ms. Saili said the Agency contracted Sable Transport and Construction Company to construct a diversion which motorists are for the time being using.
She said once the report is ready and studied, the road will be properly repaired. She cautioned the motorists to adhere to the Contractor’s instructions to avoid a possible ‘congestion’ when using the make-shift diversion.
Some drivers told ZANIS that they are happy that the road is now passable. John Lungu, a mini-bus driver commended government for the quick intervention by providing a make-shift diversion.
On Friday last week Southern Province was completely cut from the rest of the country when a culvert on the Chirundu/Livingstone Road was damaged.
Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti rushed to the area to ascertain the damage caused. Mr. Mulogoti described the damaged portion on the road as not very extensive.
Over the weekend, President Rupiah Banda also visited the site. The Head of State directed the Office of the Vice President to be conducting regular maintainance work because a good road network is vital to accelerating economic development.
The Chirundu/Livingstone road connects Zambia to neighbouring Zimbabwe as well as Botswana and Namibia.
ENDS/KC/PK/ZANIS
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Ma! it was that bad???????
What about the Livingstone Zimba road ? No mention is beign Made of it ?? It is terrible and Easter is around the corner. People are intending to travel into Sunny Livingstone to enjoy the Falls at their peak !! Then the road is also inaccesible. Ears please !!!
Ba LT why did you delete the posts we put last night before you put the pictures???? Anyway, here again: RDA is becoming a liability and should not cheat that the causes of these damages are natural, this is poor design and bad workmanship. What was the return period of the storms for which these culverts/bridges were designed for??? There is nothing exceptional about the rains this year to cause such damage. The whole road will be gone before the contractors even reach China on their way back! Too much corruption at RDA! As a Country, we should stop accepting such waste of resources by govt agencies. The other month it was a bridge in Northern Province.
IYEEEE!
this is totally poor designing. i never imagined it was that bad…. next govt. must hire better contractors. the work wasn’t worthy paying fo it. if i were the minister i would tell the company to refund some cash or repair it propery fo free…..
you are right, but knowing Zambia, Govt will fund the repairs and some officials will buy more property….shame. Heads should roll at RDA!
As i commented on the Floods in Western province,we only seem to address these perennial problems when elections are close.
‘Govt. has earmarked blah blah for a modern bridge to connect Chirundu and the rest of the world..Yee goes the hired multitude.’
Lets get real and build structures of the 21st Century.
You would think a bomb was dropped on the road! Being poor is bad. Even the little is now being taken away from us!
What do you expect from China and this Zambian Govt? Tom and Jerry rat race. Shame on this govt. Next time other contractors not China.