About K153 billion would be spent on resurfacing of Tuta road from Serenje road junction in Central Province to Mansa in Luapula Province covering a total stretch of about 323 kilometers.
Luapula Province Minister Boniface Kawimbe disclosed this yesterday when he inspected road works being done by the Road Development Agency (RDA)and the Rural Roads Unit (RRU)in partnership with provincial administration.
Dr Kawimbe said that the Mansa – Kashikishi road would have its potholes filled and that it will be resurfaced next year.
The Minister expressed Government’S determination to rehabilitate all the bad roads in Luapula Province following the heavy equipment that it had acquired adding that this development did not require contractors to do tender procedures for roads to be worked on.
And Senior Chief Mwata Kazembe of the Lunda people in Mwasabombwe of Luapula province has lauded Government for the road maintenance works that have commenced in the province.
Senior Chief Mwata Kazembe said when Luapula province Minister Dr. Boniface Kawimbe paid a courtesy call on him at his palace in Mwasabombwe yesterday that he was grateful to Government for the work it was doing in the province.
The Mwata said that the road network which was the only asset that the province had was in a deplorable state and that it was good to note that Government had looked into the plight of the people of Luapula by rehabilitating the road.
The senior Chief said that many lives would have been lost on the Mansa – Kashikishi road due to its bad state but pointed out that accidents would be reduced because the road was being rehabilitated.
He noted that a good road network attracted investment adding that the number of tourists that would attend Umutomboko ceremony this year would increase because of the good road network.
He further commended the Chinese contractor China Henan, the company resurfacing Tuta road from Serenje road junction to Mansa for the good work it was doing.
The Mwata said that the people working on the Mansa – Kashikishi road would do a better job as those on the Tuta road.
ZANIS
If I remember correctly this is the first “preventive maintenance” since the chinese handed over this once beautiful road in the days KK was at plot one. If road maintainance was done in a systemic way ,it would leave money to improve untarred roads. eg Mansa-Kasama or Nakonde – Mbala to name just a few.The RDA must be investigated and made to account for all these amounts they budget for road repairs that do not last one rainy season.
Number 1, this is a sad story to contemplate. This province has been neglected to such an extent that one wonders how a province which can ably feed the entire Southern Africa can not have it’s infrastructure developed in terms of tourism, agriculture, mining, etc. Almost all the lakes in this province have beautiful beaches, vegetation, and landscapes. We really, have been having very empty leaders in the driving seats.
Please fix the blood road, it takes out the driving pleasure each time I go to Zambia and extend it my place of birth. That road is 23 yrs old and no maintenance ever took plaec ,the potholes are like dry dams in the middle of the road.
What a painfull drive has this tuta road become
This is very good developments. It always give me a second thought to drive all the way to Kanshikishi. if One had to take a trip to Luapula you will be surprised on the number of trucks coming from this province, carrying copper and manganese. However, you wont even find a single weighbridge. Meaning RDA is not getting any money from these trucks or making sure the trucks a carrying correct tonage. We need to find a way of collecting money from these guys doing mining in Luapula or else even if we do the patching, it only last for one rain season. So where do we get the money for next maintenance. Secondly, am not happy with this contract, China Henan. They did Luanshya road 2 years ago, now it had dams and you cant even use as short cut to Kitwe (if you coming from Kapiri).
Huh **sighs** what is going on with this country
1: the nurses are on strike
2: students throwing rocks on the road
3:
what is wrong with Zambia you people
awe
it will be nice to see government opening up roads for places like between Chinsali and Lundazi/Chama, Serenje-Petauke, Mpongwe-Mumbwa, Kaoma-Kasempa. Zambia would be opened up like never before.
#7 Mwalyenda ba Kwandangala zooowona? What were you buying in all those places?? Suspicious..
I like this ROAD not the one thru KABOKE country which is very insecure. On this one KUDOS to KK