Thursday, April 25, 2024
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Sata not happy with pace of Link Zambia 8000 road project

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President Sata talking to Zulu Burrow Consultant Engineer Levy Zulu, during the inspection of the Chiawa-Chirundu road construction

President Michael Sata is not happy with the pace at which road works on the newly launched Link Zambia 8000 project are progressing.President Sata who toured the project in Lusaka this morning to check on the progress that has been made so far since he launched the project last month, was disappointed at the rate the contractor is moving.Mr. Sata took to task Zulu Burrow Development Consultants Chief Executive Officer Levi Zulu over the slow pace of the works and demanded that works be expedited or another contractor would be brought in.The President stressed that if the Chinese Contractor, China Geo was not capable of doing the works, Government was ready to engage another contractor.President Sata said he does not want to see the project take years to be completed because it was of immense economic importance to the country

“Do you want us to wait for four years before this project is completed? If the Chinese are not capable of doing the works we will bring other people who will do the project,” the President said.

The President warned that the next time he inspects the road works and things are not moving, the contract that was awarded to the Chinese contractor would be terminated.President Sata who arrived at the construction site at exactly 11:25 hours was accompanied by his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations George Chellah and other senior State House officials.[pullquote]Do you want us to wait for four years before this project is completed? If the Chinese are not capable of doing the works we will bring other people who will do the project[/pullquote]

And Zulu Burrow Development Consultants Chief Executive Officer Levi Zulu explained to journalists soon after the President’s tour of the road construction that the contractor was on course with the construction of the project.He stated that there were a lot of preparations that has to be done before a road is constructed and that these are the ones that have slowed down the pace of the works.He said the contractor had to make diversions and also prepare a place where to get crashed stones among other things before the actual construction of the project would get underway.

But when asked why the President was upset with the pace at which the contractor was moving, Mr Zulu said President Sata was a good President who had a lot of information and therefore knew what to expect from contractors.He however assured the President that everything was under control and that once all the ‘nitty gritties’ where put in place, the construction process was going to move smoothly.

And on the purported resistance of the project by the community in the area, Mr Zulu said Chieftainess Nkomesha Mukamambo the second and her subjects have been fully cooperative and supportive of the project.He said the project has met no resistance as has been speculated, saying he earlier had a meeting with about 17 farmers and other people that have been affected with the project who have agreed to be accommodated somewhere else.

 

ZANIS

108 COMMENTS

  1. The President should make more of this on the spot checks!!! I have been waiting to see him sort out the mess at UTH and entire MOH to bring it in line with the PF manifestor!!!

  2. CHEAP PUBLICITY! SATA IS NOT AN ENGINEER, SO WHAT IS HIS MAIN COMPLAINT? NEIBOURING COUNTRIES HAVE BUILT ROADS ON SAND AND THE ROADS HAVE HELD ON AND PROVED LONG LASTING? WE NEED QUALITY WORKS. NOT SUB STANDARD JOBS DUE TO PRESSUER FROM POLITICIANS.

    SATA MUST LEARN TO CONSULT..

    • I totaly agree with you. Sata is now an engineer because he has taken RDA to Stae House…watch and see. He cannot consult, know it all attitude through ba kamucheka “Red Brick”, it won’t work with roads.

  3. ONE year down the line, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government is certainly on course on its path to fulfilling the vision espoused in the PF manifesto.

    Only yesterday, President Michael Sata launched a nationwide road construction and rehabilitation project in Lusaka dubbed ‘Link Zambia-8000’.

    Looking at the financial outlay, K27 trillion staked for the project, this is an ambitious exercise whose spinoffs will obviously put Zambia on course for unprecedented development.

    Any country’s real development is all-encompassing, involving good roads and bridges, adequate water supply and sewer, as well as electrical grids and efficient telecommunications.

  4. THAT THE MAN I KNOW. I REMEMBER VERY WELL WHEN HE USED TO FIRE PEOPLE FOR LAZYING ABOUT WHEN THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING. THIS IS WHAT MASEBO WAS TALKING ABOUT- ZAMBIANS ARE LAZY. WHERE I LEAVE TARRING A GOOD STRETCH OF ROAD TAKES JUST A PART OF A NIGHT. IN THE MORNING WHEN YOU WAKE UP YOU JUST GET SURPRISED TO FIND THAT YOU HAVE A NEW ROAD. SATA IS RIGHTLY IN A HURRY TO SEE ZAMBIA DEVELOP. I SUPPORT HIM. VIVA OUR PRESIDENT. LONG LIVE OUR PRESIDENT. THAT’S THE MAN WE NEED EVEN FOR THE SECOND TERM.

    • Thats resurfacing my brother, to lay a new road takes long if you want it to stand the test of time. The base has to be prepared correctly or the roads wont last, so less not rush things too much. We need good roads not just roads

    • I think your mother was a prostitute when she concieved you and the man who sired you could be kabimba the shagist. So watch how your father (kabimba), GBM, and sata are going to finish each other. You’l cry.

    • ibu u are a true maggot indeed,  Why on earth would you want to tag a parent in such a  discussion??? unless if you are related to HH, which still doesn’t give you any right to insult HH’s critics. Its like HH is sacred to you, is he????

  5. EASY DOES IT PRESIDENT SATA,,OR ELSE BP WILL ATTACK YOU…LEARN TO UNDERSTAND THE PROFESSION OF OTHERS…BY THE WAY WHERE HAVE BEEN HIDING….?NOW DUE TO YOUR LIES ,,PRESSURE IS ON YOU..GIVE PEOPLE JOBS AND MORE MONEY IN THE POCKETS. NEXT ELECTIONS WE ARE RETIRING YOU SIR.

  6. What disturbs me most is the fact that almost all road projects are given to the chinese companies. This means that the trilions staked for these roads will go to china and this is what is causing our currency to lose value. Our local engineers are only acting us consultants and not actual road contractors, WHY?

    • mpundu kazembe,  LPM had tried to give Zambians the chance to do the work but instead Zambians did a poor job, the road was bad and they pocketed the money, the same also as Josky has pointed about B.Y. So LPM had stopped giving Zambians saying that if they improve in their workmanship then he shall give them, i think this is what Sata has picked up too and from experience as well, he knows that fact. It is a sad reality. It pains me too. We need Zambians who don’t want to steal money but want excellent results in everything they do. So road contracts go to Chinese and the South Africans mostly.

    • He likes Chongwe…guess what? If Silvia Masebo is equal to Winter Maize, then Chieftainess …….is equal to …….. fill in the blanks. Like mother like daughter.

    • You dont just wake up and become a businessman or woman. You must grow it within you. Others are workers for the employers. It doesnt mean that if u become engineer then u can run a business no. Baba . And remember Zambia at the moment does not support big businesses. Road construction is not like dealing in airtime by the kiosk. You got to have financial muscle. So lets hope the GRZ can assist by allowing banks to find business in Individuals at reasonable interest rates. GRZ has the power to do so.

  7. Bakateka is very tired,let him tour the whole country..why only ku Chongwe…web need new blood of leadership..the likes of H.H can do better than our tired old politician, Sata

  8. constructing a road is not the same as building a kanthemba.it needs proper planning if you rush the contractor expect shoddy works 

  9. MR. PRESIDENT TOUR THE WHOLE COUNTRY NOT ONLY LAZYING UP IN CHONGWE AREA..WHY..CHONGWE IS NOT ZAMBIA…SINCE YOU WERE ELECTED YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ACTIVE PRESIDENT…BY THE WAY SORT OUT GBM AND KABIMBA STAND OFF.

  10. President Sata, we need more of those site checks on a number of projects…We have a lot of Zambians who have been contracted to carry out major govt. projects, but because of laziness, projects have taken years to be completed or not completed at all!
    Please sir, we beg of youon the spot check is the only way you will juck-up most these lazy contractors.. we are behind you and the PF govt, all we want from you, is the action, action and action…since you are an action oriented man. GOD BLESS YOU SIR

  11. The old man is very rough let him calm down ,,he is not an Engineer ,,Please go round the country ..you are to see the Zambians how they are suffering..not just expecting dust road ,,you think you are working..people need food on the table.

  12. good move Mr. President you need to be overzealous with these chaps…to get work done in Zambia, its like an African child…with cane or whip!

  13. Consulting Engineers are saying the contractor is on course, so who the hell does Sata think he is to be shouting at the contractor as if he knows better what is involved when he is just a street sweeper risen to presidency through mistake? Leave the chinese contractor to do the work. There is no need to start politiking over road construction unless he wants to give the contract to his friends who have promised him a big “mutulo” corruption.

  14. The little that i know on road construction tells me that speed is not the answer. If the president was arguing on the poor engineering standards and materials being used on the project then he would have a point. Zambia has always suffered due to contractors using substandard materials and poor engineering skills and building roads at breakneck speed, which roads turn into gravel within a couple of years. My suggestion is the president should have a proper roads standard board with experts to assess progress on road construction as well as the quality of materials and that proper engineering standards are being followed not this layman knee jerk reaction based on nothing but trying to impress the public.

    • We need quality roads not quantity of work done Mr President Sir.No good road will last without good road bedding and soil density test done to ensure that the road bed meets agreed international density test required.If you start rushing the project you have yourself to blame because a weaker road bed will give off within days or months.Its not about that amount of Asphalt or Pre-mix laid on top that will make a road strong and durable.Please Sir consult your civil engineers specialised road construction they will tell the truth.Please do not play to the gallery to be praised rather let the engineers do a quality work otherwise you be blamed for poor workmanship.

  15. Iwe UPND advisor, how do you intend to transport mealie meal to Chiawa if there is no road? Keep on dreaming while he pushes for his vision and you live to cry another election day in 2016! Go HEMCS, keep at them and ask the engineers from the ministry of works and supply to also validate the quality of the road. By the way, checking the progress of a project does not need an engineer. I am a GM where I work and I receive progress reports of our engineering projects. Progress gives an indication of work pace in relation to focasted time frame and has nothing to do with actual engineering qualifiaction and quantification of the project.

  16. Where is Engineering Institute of Zambia- what is the contract specification? MrZulu has said the works are on course I would rather side with a professional. We need to let our professionals do the work without any political interference, they went to school for a purpose. It’s a bush path that they are constructing; it’s a huge project involving serious tax payers’ money.

    • This where EIZ should coming in and advise that president.Do not let Willie Nsanda tell the president lies that the works are moving at snail’s pace.Ask Mr Willie Nsanda about that Nakandoli market/Racecourse road that he was rushing the contractor Rubex construction to construct during the 2001 general elections whether the road is passable.We have got a problem in Zambia where technocrats let politicians control them by supervising projects that do not fully understand technically.That’s why we are saying that RDA needs a Technical Man to head it not a transporter or politician please.

  17. Expect poor work if this si the kind of pressure contarctors will be subjected to.

    What time frame dos the president have in mind? And are the contractors behind ?

  18. Where is Engineering Institute of Zambia- what is the contract specification? MR Zulu has said the works are on course I would rather side with a professional. We need to let our professionals do the work without any political interference, they went to school for a purpose. It’s not a bush path that they are constructing; it’s a huge project involving serious tax payers’ money.

    • That is the role Zulu Barrow Development are playing on the project. He should have consulted them on the progress before the outburst which it turns out was not necessary.

  19. It is good and necessary that the President is being vigillant about these projects and calling for good execution speed. The engineers and contractors, on the other hand, should prove their professional worth by not just succumbing to pressure and delivering poor quality products “in good time” but should explain cogently those areas where there are inherent/necessary delays, as Mr. Zulu did.

  20. Man of action aka motor mouth! Sata please take it easy. Only a fool would expect a road to have been built within a month. Is this the reason RDA has been transferred to State House. This is very silly from the President. There’s nothing worth praising here……just let the professionals do their work please. One month my foot! What parameters are you using iwe chimbwi?

  21. Prosper Zambian, HH will never rule Zambia, unfortunately. Unless and until the UPND realises that it may require to change leade4rship at the top, you will continue wallowing in the opposition! He may have the money but he is not a politician and he is totally incapable of learning how to become one!! Replace him with sober people like Garry Nkombo and you will see the changes!!

  22. I like when one talks about all the trillions going to China, very interesting . Please lets develop the Mufulira engeneering squadron and the ZNS . Let this money work internally . We can have the best engeneers from the Squadron and the ZNS. This giving money to the foreign companies is what is promoting corruption .

  23. The spokes man for the chines company has admitted that the reparations are the ones taking long. So the president knows what he is doing. Some of you bloggers don’t know what you are saying do you know what the guys have done so far. There is nothing tangible showing that they have done. 

    • My Friend Kadoli Katapa its not the spokesman for the Chinese,its Consulting Engineer Mr Levi Zulu from Zulu Burrow who talked about preparations taking long.The question you should ask is What kind of preparation is that is taking long.There is 1) Site establishment,2) Equipment and Personnel mobilisation,3) You need to survey the area where the road will pass taking all the OGLs,4) Survey and find an area where you will get suitable material (Laterite-Mwe bena ati balance or gravel) required for bedding,5) You need to clear the vegetation (Remember ZEMA) has to approve your Environmental Impact Assessment.6) You need to construct by passes or deviation roads and alot.If this project was initiated last month when was the EIA done?Was it approved by ZEMA?

  24. This project was launched a month ago and tenders have already been awarded; though the president means well to speed up the works..he should not use such language as engaging another contractor is not as easy as firing his ministers via his State House spokesperson; in construction that costs money…let the professionals prep the site areas first. Why is he so concerned about that 4 year time frame? 

  25. Am happy he has gone out of state house….impression no:1.Am happy he has toured an ill conceived project he has no much details about.let him go round the country address issues of Drainage,water and sanitation,Farming,schools,even Gvt houses look pathetic,let him address that with the 27 trillion.How do you tackle emerging issues leaving out pressing ones.PF sympathizers pliz think and direct the president to urgent problems.Actions speaks louder remember

  26. H.H IS THERE FOR ALL ZAMBIANS HE IS FIT TO RULE THE COUNTRY BETTER, THAN THESE OLD TIRED SATA AND GROUP

  27. Window Dressing.What speed is he talking about unless he wants a road system that will crumble in months just for the sake of being seen to do something.

  28. VIVA H.H FOR PRESIDENT,,IAM IN FULL SUPPORT OF H.H AND UPND..NOT THESE LIERS..THEY LIED THE YOUTHS ,,THEY LIED THE MINBUS,,TAX DRIVERS..THEY ARE LIERS..GOD PLS INTERVAIN

  29. the kabulonga girls pupils who were coming from writing their exams cheered him after he waved at them at the bishop/leopards hill roads traffic lights on his way. the girls were heared as saying that this is the real president and i for one i feel he is. if you just looked at his motorcade. you wouldnt even realise he is the one.
    May the Lord God add more years to his Life.

  30. Golf Hotel #4 Are you still dreaming of RB, the peasant farmer turned USD minllinaire in 3 years, Sons from failed businessmen to first class upper mwambas. You must be joking.

  31. When he was Governor of Lusaka, those guys in green overalls stopped cooking their lunch from 10h00 to 15h00. They started working…and the flowers in Cairo Road started to grow

  32. HH will be President of Southern Province in 2016.
    There is no way he can be President of Zambia. If UPND wants to takeover govt, they need to get rid of HH. He is not just presidential material.

  33. Go Sata go…show them. They thought development will never take off under your able leadership. Go Go. Zambia is solidly behind you. Let HH or that fake pastor hung themsleves

  34. People sure rushing the contractor is not the way,but lazying around is also not right i was in Lilongwe was shocked people constructing a road in the night detours eveywhere by morning the road finished ku dabwa ine!!!!!!!!

  35. Too bad this grade 7 dropout is adopting the elaborate development plans laid out by the visionary RB as his own.Too bad for zed that our own Lee Kuan Yew (RB) was not given a chance to complete these rd projects.

  36. When ZEMA hold public hearing on the construction of this road?What will happen to the villagers that own properties where the road will pass,Are they going to be compensated or not?Does it mean the EIA was done some months before that President flagged the construction works or it was done after the flagging.Or maybe it is one of those things when the president has said then ZEMA will not act like the issue of the Chinese Mine construction in Ichimpe forest along the Kitwe/Chingola that was flagged by then MMD and Republican President his excellence Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda.As concerned citizens ZEMA please where is the EIA for this project and what will happen to the flora and fauna during and after completion of this project?

  37. The President know what he is saying; that rubbish of saying we are looking for a place to get crashed stone doesn’t sit well with any rightful thinking individual. How many credible quarries do we have here in Lusaka; ever heard of subcontracting imwe ba UPND?? That’s the President I put in office with my Vote and if you are hating on him for being real you have another thing coming!!

    • My Friend its not any aggregate that you get from any quarry in Lusaka will be suitable for road construction.Do not show your ignorance here bro,Ask civil engineers they will tell grade they look for.Some of the aggregate you see around are too soft to use easily break into powder.Go Oriental Quarries and find out bro.

  38. The diverse comments show that Saint Michael is on the right track. Keep on keeping on. When the road is done the sceptics will be the ones saying ” Tulibakali”:)>-

  39. When was this tender advertised for bidding? Or its one of those single sourcing that will land some one in trouble in the near future after 4 years to be specific.Politicians forget easily,they have forgotten about the Dora Siliya issue of single sourcing.I would not be surprised if the K600 Billion Chingola/Kitwe dual carriage way have already be been awarded to our famous all weather friends the Chinese.

  40. IN CASE YOU DO NOT KNOW, OUR PRESIDO IS THE MOST INFORMED PERSON AND HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING AND SAYING OVER THIS PROJECT.

    BUT I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. HOW MANY KILOMETERS WERE AWARDED? TO EXPEDITE YOU DON’T PUSH A CONTRACTOR FOR TIME PERFORMANCE WHEN THE CONTRACT PROVISION DOES NOT SAY SO.

    SO IF I WAS AN ADVISOR TO OUR PRESIDO, I WOULD RECOMMEND SPLITTING THE 8,000 KILOMETERS IN SMALLER LOTS AND CONTRACTS TO ENABLE ALL QUALIFIED CONTRACTORS HAVE A SIZABLE PORTION AND THEN FORCE PERFORMANCE ON TIME AND QUALITY.

    WE LOVE U PRESIDO.

  41. Some guy is alleging that this was RB’s project. Is this amnesia? RB’s was called Formula 1 fast track programme whose target was urban township roads. Under MCS we have the Link Zambia – 8000. This one is to link provinces and districts for national interconnectivity. Now, know that this project is close to the President’s heart. We know that this road is supposed to be an example of what the project will achieve. It must be 24hrs work guys.

  42. THE ARTICLE IN TODAY ZWD ENTITLED “ ZRA sends demand notice to Post newspaper for K12 billion” MAKES INTERESTING READING

    GEORGE SIAME’S CASE WAS NEVER PUBLISHED WITH THE BALANCE REQUIRED OF THE POST, THE PAPER THAT DIGS DEEPER. REASON = KESTIKOS MWANSA COULD CONTROL EVEN THE MEDIA DANGLING A CARROT OF TAX DUE, WHICH WAS ENDLESSLY NEVER PAID. SO IF YOU PUBLISH A BALANCED STORY OR A GEORGE BIASED STORY, TAX COLLECTORS WOULD BE SENT THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE EDITORIAL TEAMS FEARED THIS.

    THIS IS THE KIND OF COUNTRY WE HAVE BEEN RUNNING. ITS NOT SURPRISING THAT ZRA IS OWED K12 BILLION BY THE POST. THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA HAS BEEN COMPROMISED AND CORRUPTED. MISA AND ZAMBIANS IN GENERAL SHOULD WAKE UP!

    WHATEVER YOU READ IN THE PAPERS, THE ACTUAL TRUTH NEVER COMES OUT!

  43. Bitternes and sulking is not good for the president’s health. Zambians are still waiting for promises some of which are long overdue and may never be fulfilled. A ligacy has been muted that of LIES, so take it easy for the sake of elevating blood presure. Zambia needs you to account for those promises and more money in their pockets.

  44. Great move by Sata. Please continue checking on these used thieves who still think they are under the corrupt RB. The same engineers were conniving with the choncholis in stealing our money. Sata please see to it that this time even the quality of the road is checked. Gone are the days when these contractors stole at will. Well done HE MCS.

    Peace and Prosperity to Mother Zambia.  

  45. what a lethergic population zedians are. you mean to tell me that you people are so happy and impressed that you have one kaipitao to supervise everything…… then he has to be a super kapitao to oversee the entire country. WHAT ZAMBIA NEEDS IS FUNCTIONING SYSTEMS AND NOT THESE HAPHAZARD ONE MAN SHOWS. NONSENSE

  46. I am very happy, the project has taken off. I am looking at development and not my fellow bantustan to enter state house. he will be eating alone and state house will be full of bantustans. kakoma will go in foreign sevice. anyway do not worry he has only one percent chance. even pastor mumba will beat him. The general has started talking now and he will be neck and neck with. i want to order a tourism car for my new company so the budget must pass. Any lawmaker who will frustrate the budget will be cursed and will never win any election in zambia. God bless MCS our President.

  47. Sata needs to go coz this is just a cheap PR stunt designed to hoodwink uneducated and naive simpletons.If a system is built around one man to function then its a failure since its not “institutionalised” which is why its backward to have Sata supervise stuff.True governance systems don’t depend on a personality but are firmly planted on institutions such that if that person leaves there is continuity with checks and balances.Thats why those cheering Sata are naive coz they shud be cheering for a “working system” which should survive his departure.

  48. FOR THOSE WONDERING WHY MOST OF THE PROJECTS GO TO CHINESE,IT’S BECAUSE THEY R THE ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD CAN FINISH THE PROJECT WITH LOW PRICE AND PROPER QUALITY.WHY DON’T THEY BUY QUARR FROM LUSAKA?I’M GOING TO ASK U WHY DON’T U JST ALSO BUY WATER FROM SPAR AND MAKE A ROAD? CACULATE THE COST!PLS.IF ZAMBIAN CAN FINISH EVERY PROJECT WITH QUALITY AND EFFICIENCY.I CAN NOT FIND A REASON THOSE FOREIGN COMPANY EXIST.IF U CAN NOT DO IT BY YOURSELF,THEN SHUT UP AND LET THOSE HARDWORK CHINESE DO IT

  49. Why was the project awarded to the chinese in the first place? It will be riddled with shoddy work, delays, worker disenchantment, even murder. Just cancel their contract and engage an organisation with good reputation.

  50. To me the catchy word is that “President Sata is a good President WHO HAS A LOT OF INFORMATION AND KNOWS WHAT TO EXPECT FROM CONTRACTORS”. I bet there are informers on the ground. Something somehow somewhere was amiss ba China Geo. Work hard and know that we are in a hurry to develop Zambia. Charles Wang, the Chinese Project manager, pull up your socks otherwise we shall give China Henan.

  51. What does SATA know on road engineering this is just his usual cheap publicity, and it make me sad reading when PF KAPONYAS what us to believe in such cheap propanganda from the President

  52. Sata is Sata.He developed Lusaka when he was governor for Lusaka.Now that he is governing Zambia.Zambia will be a better place to leave in.Zambia for Sata!

  53. Am confused with some bloggers here, how does HH fit in this situation? Desperation. A cheap tribal politician!!!!!!!!

  54. Whether you are against the man, you have to salute him on this one. We all need it to be completed soon. Well done Mr. President

  55. SORY..SATA IS A FAILED ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT..WE NEED NEW LEADERSHIP…SATA IS VERY TIRED FELLOW…WE ARE ALL FOR H.H FULL STOP.

  56. Mwanuke ka saambelwe is just hungry chap..young man grow a bit..this Sata of yours is very tired..that dust road is not Zambia..people need food on the table ok.

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