VICE-PRESIDENT George Kunda has announced that Government will this year rehabilitate more than 130 bridges under the countrywide fast-track emergency infrastructure rehabilitation programme to improve accessibility of goods and services to peole.
Mr Kunda said in Katete yesterday that this project will be undertaken by the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), Zambia Army, Zambia National Service, Road Development Agency (RDA) and the Rural Roads Unit (RRU).
Of the 130 crossing points, 26 are in Eastern Province.
He said this when he commissioned Mayela Bridge, that has been reconstructed by RDA and RRU at a cost of K1 billion.
“This emergency rehabilitation of infrastructure is in line with my Government’s commitment to ensuring that all parts of our country are accessible for easy movement of people, goods and services,” he said.
On the Mayela Bridge, Mr Kunda said the infrastructure was washed away three times and that the community of Chief Kathumba was cut off with people having problems accessing Nyanje Hospital and the school located about 8kms from the crossing point.
He said RDA carried out technical assessment and cost estimates of reconstructing the bridge and submitted the bill of quantities to DMMU, which was then given K1 billion by the Ministry of Finance and National Planning.
Mr Kunda said he is happy that work on the bridge was successfully completed and commended DMMU, RDA and RRU for a job well done.
He said the bridge will also improve people’s access to Mozambique.
Mr Kunda also said DMMU has rehabilitated five culverts in Chipata district and one in Mambwe that were washed away last rainy season.
And the Vice-President has said the DMMU has pre-positioned 3,300 metric tonnes of maize for distribution to vulnerable people in Eastern Province.
“I am reliably informed that this exercise is going on well. In order to warn our people of impending disasters, my office has further been implementing the community-based hazard early warning projects,” he said.
Mr Kunda said Government has distributed 30 solar panels and three motor bikes to the Meteorological Department and Water Affairs to ensure that people are provided with information before disasters occur.
He said Government is also constructing district hospitals in Chadiza, Chama and Lundazi which are at different completion levels on which Government plans to spend about K42 billion.
Mr Kunda said Government is further constructing 21 health posts across Eastern Province at a cost of K1.5 billion.
In the education sector, Mr Kunda said Government is building three high schools which are Kacholola in Nyimba, Chama South in Chama and Kasenengwa in Chipata at a cost of K72 billion.
“These projects are all near completion and will be ready for use before the end of this year. Rehabilitation works were also carried out on Chama Boarding High School at a cost of K23 billion,” he said.
Mr Kunda urged the people of Eastern Province to vote for President Banda and the MMD in this year’s tripartite elections to ensure continuity of development.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
do not do things harphazardly just because u want votes red lips.Â
do not use government resouces to fund mmd campaign. otherwise their will be no arvs for you in chimbokaila
MMD cadres, come out. These are bridges, not utubulalo utwansegu. Is the Bulangililo (Kafue Bridge) on the list? MMD hallucinations at its best.
The question is why now Hon. Kunda? Where were you all along?
26 out of the 130 projects are in eastern Province. I thought the three provinces that need bridge infrastructure are the ‘water rich’ Western, Luapula and Northern Provinces. It is not so long ago that we learnt that the majority of new High schools were been built in Eastern Province with 30% of that total in Dora Siliya’s home town of Petauke! I am now beginning to think some Lozis might have a point or two in what they are agitating for!
build as many as you want but don’t kubeba.All this is being done at the 11th hour,there no blessings.Your time has come and you it.
Did all the 130 bridges get damaged at once? Of course not!
Bloggers, add and or subtract as needed
Soon they will start building bridges on dry land. MPs in Kenya promise anything to win elections. It is now showing up in Zambia. How bridges have been worked on since MMD or RB came into office? Simply put, these are bridges to nowhere.
PLZ LEAVE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THESE BRIDGES ASIDE AS YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EVEN DIG THE FOUNDATION AT THIS 11TH HOUR LEAVEI IT TO SATA HE WILL COMPLETE THE JOB NICELY BY GETTING PROFSSIONALS TO DO IT AND NOT BY PEOPLE LIKE SABLE TRANSPORT AND PLEASE JUST CONCENTRATE ON FIXING THE ELECTION DATE. .
These issues should have been dealt with long ago. It’s too little too late, The Zambian public have waken up from your lies and deceitfulness.Â
:d KAAAAAAAABBBBBBBAAAAAALLLLLLLWWWWWEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ITS GOOD THIS WAY THAT THEY PAY BACK ALL THEY ALMOST STORE BUT WE KNOW THAT BY DOING THIS THEY ARE STEALING THROUGH CONTRACTORS……!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ANOUNCE THE ELECTION DATE PLEASE ENAF OF DEVELOPMENTAL FIMOFIMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MMD PANSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!! :((
Good move mr.kunda & your gov’t.we need development evn at the last hour. MMD 5 vs Pf 0. Viva Rb
What else is he going to promise for this election? reinstatement of Zambia’s space program? atase
…. Yes, they will promise to build Bridges PA LAST MINUTE; even when there are no rivers. MOVEMENT FOR MOVING DEAD (MMD)….
“fast-track emergency infrastructure rehabilitation programme” LOL….these desperate guys are jokers!!!
we know how you politicians are. you promise to build bridges even where there no rivers.
Give us the names of the contractors actually doing the work. 90% of them have banda boys connections.
Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), Zambia Army, Zambia National Service, Road Development Agency (RDA) and the Rural Roads Unit (RRU).
Of thse only ZA and probably ZNS have the capacity to do actual building, the rest just sign. Tell us who the selected contractors are, theives.
MMD claim Hon Mangani,s move to PF did not affect the party, if Hon  Mangani was not a factor why was RB considering him and why has the govt announced all these projects in eastern province.
We know this is a counter attack against Hon Mangani ,these damage limitation projects will not fool the Eastern voters. Why were these projects not implemented before?
RB knows the people involved are very Loyal, it’s for this loyalty our Bemba and Lozi cousins joke we make good house servants
And for this very loyalty Zambian presidents want us to run the OP, look when Chiluba brought in Chungu and crew they robbed the countryÂ
SO GK don’t be fooled
#15 Jay jay-spot on mune.
Fast-track Emergence rehabilitation…Bla bla bla.
kekekekekeke!!!!!
Umuteka tima wakushishe ikonge amabula (bemba saying).
What happened all this while ba red lips?
N.B Speed kills.
fast track towards what?
Proper bridges cannot be built in months, no wonder we need bridges every year after the rain season. You don’t just wake up in the morning and start saying we are building a bridge on this this river without any planning and consultations with engineers, it is a waste of money. Even UNIP did a good job, not this rubbish. 130 bridges !! where are you getting the money?Â
Why is the Eastern province getting a lions share on all the projects- clinics, schools, colleges, roads and bridges. This is wrong and it should not be encouraged. I don’t hear much about North-western province,Northern province and Western province.Â
Is Kunda a nice man?
Talk is cheap bwaanaah:-w
Three motor bikes to the Met dept? Intriguing Mr. Vice President. Zambia is rich enough to allocate a helicopter to the every regional Met dept. No wonder they call you the most d.aft VP the country has ever had. You think people are stupid. ZNBC also needs a ZNBC-scopter  for news coverage. Why do you politicians set our targets so low. We don’t need this self induced backwardness from you people. We don’t even need a government if this will be the caliber of it. Our people deserve better.
I’ll unleash MUSHOTA (the LT blogger) on this government if they continue behaving this way.
Lunatic, last kicks of a dying horse. *****s
Whenever politicians see the end of the tunnel,they go out to buy more tunnel just to keep them in office .It is for this reason they now find it convenient to suddenly remember neglected bridges.
A bridge for One Billion Kwacha!
Fry over bridges or what?where are there being built?put one then in independence stadium,near the goal post and on top of fairview hotel,too much traffic in the evening there,right by the bar counter pls.