PRESIDENT Lungu yesterday commissioned works for the upgrading of the 100-kilometre Mwinilunga-Jimbe road that will cost US$105 million.
The road, which will take 36 months to upgrade to bituminous standard by a local contractor Frecca, will help boost trade between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“Our desire to improve the state of our roads is based on the firm belief that roads are a catalyst to national development,” President Lungu said.
He said other benefits of the Mwinilunga-Jimbe road include increased tourist inflows, mining and reduced travel time between the border town of Jimbe and Mwinilunga.
The President also warned residents against vandalism, saying Government has spent huge sums of money.
Meanwhile, President Lungu also inspected the US$163 million project aimed at connecting the province to the national electricity grid.
Meanwhile, President Lungu on Sunday afternoon drove on the Solwezi-Chingola road to inspect the rehabilitation works.
The President said the works have slowed down because of rains.
On people publicising the detour road which is temporarily being used as the actual Solwezi-Chingola road, Mr Lungu said they are only being malicious and mischievous.
“They are bent on bringing down everyone and everything. For me I don’t care what they say, the truth will set us free. Zambians are now mature than listening to detractors,” President Lungu said.
He was speaking when he stopped over at Kimputubwanga area, which is located 25 kilometres from the Solwezi central business district.
“The earlier we finish this job the better. But I don’t take them seriously. Some people are bent at that and it is their nature to bring down everything, anything,” President Lungu said.
He, however, said there is need to expedite the rehabilitation works.
“The works are going on well and as we have been told, they will need to slow down because of the rains.
“We want to finish the works as soon as possible. The earlier we finish this work the better. So let us expedite the works,” President Lungu said.
The smart people of the Zambian Enterprise realize that in an age of dysfunctional government, effective leadership capacity is the threshold issue. That means being able to listen to others, surround yourself with people smarter than you, gather a governing majority and above all have an actual implementation strategy.
ECL has my endorsement!
Remember an endorsement does not translate into a vote. Your endorsement would only make sense if you had a voters card.
But good luck.
Comment: ECL all the way!!
pipo didnt appreciate levy patrick Mwanawasa in the first time. We came to appreviate him in the second term. Obama almost lost the second round. its after 7years Americans are seeing hope in Obama administration. look at HH’s 7 years of presidency. He only attracted his relatives. Give lungu time.
And the 1st three letters of your name describe you perfectly
ENDORSEMENT IS A LEAF CHEQUE WHERE TO WRITE THE AMOUNT ONE WANTS.
LUNGU IS SIMPLY THE BEST
– WHICH GOVT IN FIFTY YEARS AS CHANGED ALMOST ALL TOWNS SOLWEZI IS CHANGING WAIT FOR RAINS TO STOP SO THAT TOWNSHIP ROADS CAN BE DONE VIVA PF VIVA LUNGU
CONCERN~ THE LOCAL CONTRACTOR ATANG’A WE SHUD NOT COMPLAIN FOR POOR QUALITY ITS OUR CHOICE WE OUR FELLOW LUNDA TO DO IT ITS A BIG MISTAKE.
WE SHUD HAVE GONE FOR CHINESE OUR FRIENDS REJECT LOCALS BCOS OF POOR PERFORMANCES.
U VOTE TRIBAL U REGRET LATER
HH CAN NOT DO BETTER THAN THIS HE WILL DO MORE IN NP,LP,MP,EP TO PROVE HE IS GUD.NB OUR POPULATION IS STILL SMALL BUT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
@ Kanyelele, when last were you in Solwezi to see extent of mediocre infrastructure development in the area, if at all you been there??? Why should Slz , against all the massive contributions to the treasury be the last to see devpt when other small towns have had their share already??? I have been to Slz lately and I couldn’t believe my eyes, it’s absurdity at it’s best! Let the national cake be shared equitably.
I may need to be educated on this one. Is Road construction as expensive as it is in Zambia or we are missing something here? When did things get this expensive? US$1,000,000.00 per kilometer? Is this normal. Please Senior Citizen and MMD Bootlicker you guys seem like patriots please comment. These are just mare roads, a village road would cost this much?
@5 I will just give you an idea. In 2014 it costed govt of Australia about $747million per km to construct an airport link in Brisbane. For you to complain about 1million/km tells me just how ignorant you are about construction. To me that 1m /km is fako and befitting a road in a third world country.
The average cost of road construction per km was $866,000 according to a study done by the World Bank in 1999. The median cost was $959,000 while the range was $142,000 to $1,832,000.
source:
http://www.worldbank.org/transport/roads/c&m_docs/kmcosts.pdf
pabwatooooooooooooooo 11 August 2016 ECL tulekupela ka vote muntu wandi
Am very surprised with Chagwa… Honestly can you say people who are complaining about the road works on the Chingola solwezi road are being malicious…. Chagwa, Chagwa, Chagwa how many times have i called your name
iyeee..chifundo imwee
Jimbe is in Angola. The road should primarily promote trade between Zambia and Angola and as a 2nd order effect probably improve trade with DRC due to proximity. Or am I missing something?
Sinking Titanic …..contracts meant to syphone money ….evry wise man in the construction industry knows what’s happening… And can not be cheated by a cader ….we know that there’s a cut which goes to the party ….while others are ..clapping…project money is channelled to some pockets that’s they not finishing …chingola solwezi road started in 2011….
This is daylight robbery how can 100km cost $100million..dont these people in govt employ cost engineering to reduce such figures…how can this lazy bum Edgar be proud of this??
Have you ever heard of TENDERPRENUERSHIP? Road construction offers best returns!!!