Friday, March 29, 2024

Road infrastructure development can spread growth-Mukanga

Share

Transport and Communication Minister Yafya Mukanga receives scissors From African Direction Performer whilst RDA Senior Public Relation Manager loyce Saili looks on during the launch of Road Maintenance Strategy 2015-2024 book
Transport and Communication Minister Yafya Mukanga receives scissors From African Direction Performer whilst RDA Senior Public Relation Manager loyce Saili looks on during the launch of Road Maintenance Strategy 2015-2024 book

Government has maintained road infrastructure development on top of its agenda because it was the best way to spread economic growth to the whole country.

Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Minister Yamfwa Mukanga said good national road networks will enable people to have access to various markets for their goods and services.

Mr. Mukanga was speaking during the good governance in roads project public event held in Lusaka today.
“There has been considerable allocation to the road sector in the 2015 budget of K 5.4 billion which accounted for 11 percent of the total national budget,” he said.

He said the Road Development Agency (RDA) got a huge share of about K4.9 billion adding that this indicated the importance which government attached to improving road infrastructure.

He has since warned perpetuators of unethical behaviour in the road sector that government will not hesitate to take serious measures against them.

Mr. Mukanga said the country has lost a lot of lives on the roads due to poor workmanship on some of the roads in the country.

He noted that the World Bank and RDA have called on people to be proactive in road matters in order to demand better service delivery through good governance in roads project.

“This is one of the best ways to promote accountability and transparency within the road sector” Mr. Mukanga said.

And Road Development Agency (RDA) Chief Executive Officer Kanyuka Mumba said his institution was ready to work closely with all well-meaning partners to enhance good governance in road projects.

Mr. Mumba has since called on community members to monitor road projects and report contractors who were not delivering quality road works.

He however noted that literacy levels of community members were very low thereby making it difficult for them to participate in monitoring of road projects.

He added that RDA will however continue sensitizing members of the community on new roads to ensure monitoring of projects by the public was strengthened.

Meanwhile, World Bank Country Director Kundhavi Kadiresan said the bank, in collaboration with the Road Development Agency, initiated good governance in roads project to influence improved accountability and service delivery in the road sector.

Ms. Kadiresan said the purpose of the project was to address the weaknesses in the road sector by bringing key actors together.

She said there was need for government and civil society to work together in order to achieve results that have real impact in the road sector.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Japan eyes maximum $1.5B contribution to AIIB

    This meeting in Beijing last October laid the groundwork for the AIIB. © Reuters

    TOKYO — Japan will continue to push for transparency at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and would chip in as much as $1.5 billion if it decides to take part in the Chinese-led initiative, according to a policy outlined by the government.

    The Japanese position is spelled out in a report, compiled by the finance and foreign affairs ministries, that was submitted to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the end of March. Japan will make a final decision on its participation by the end of June.

    Japan will work with the U.S. to demand that China ensure transparent operations at the bank and fair screening of…

  2. MARUBISH RDA CEO how can a villager do your work to monitor and report contractors who do shoddy works , are u normal? Chiwala never said this in his time as CEO no the so called young blood u want to sit in your offices and expect a villager to tell u the bitumen applied is of poor quality ATASE IWE

Comments are closed.

Read more

Local News

Discover more from Lusaka Times-Zambia's Leading Online News Site - LusakaTimes.com

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading