Lusaka Town Clerk Alex Mwansa said the local authority had engaged Sunspot Insurance Brokers to help replace the vandalised streetlight poles through insurance claims of vehicles that damaged the poles.
Mr Mwansa also urged members of the public to report to the police whenever they saw a vehicle hit into any of the poles by simply giving the vehicle registration number.
He said in a statement issued yesterday by LCC assistant public relations manager, Brenda Katongola that the council had noted with concern that most streetlights were being knocked down by careless motorists, especially during weekends.
He said that the road maintenance and street lighting installation project was aimed at improving the status of roads in the city to make them better and safer for all road users.
Mr Mwansa said AVIC International had been awarded a contract by the Government to construct roads and install the streetlights in the capital city, which was being supervised by LCC and the Road Development Agency (RDA).
He said streetlight installations would be carried out on major roads in the city, with the Great East, Chilimbulu and Burma roads receiving a facelift and later on Independence Avenue.
“Some roads such as Addis Ababa Drive, Church and Great East roads have already started receiving a facelift to enhance the safety of our road users. This is expected to continue on all the roads in the central business district (CBD), including the pedestrian or zebra crossings,” Mr Mwansa said.
He said that AVIC in partnership with LCC and RDA was expected to light up 150-kilometre stretch of the 408 kilometres of roads at an estimated cost of US$23,550,000.
Mr Mwansa said in trying to stave off the continued power outage by Zesco, the council and RDA had embarked on putting up streetlight poles, which were solar-powered on 40km of the 150km in an effort to improve lighting and security in the city even with the current power deficit.
He said the LCC had since installed conventional streetlights along Manchinchi, Dr Aggrey and Blue Boar roads through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and internal support, and that the local authority was working on modalities to protect infrastructure which was being constructed.
Mr Mwansa said that the local authority through funding from the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) was currently carrying out road markings on major roads and pothole patching on selected roads in the capital city.
Lighting up a 408 km stretch at a cost of $23 M. Uuuhm. I am not sure if these costs are just inflated or they are for real.
You would think they were building a road with that amount of money!!
Am sure they will light up Lusaka using Charcoal – malasha to generate electricity – this is just goes to show how st..u..pid we Zambians can be taken in for just before elections!!
It is PF’s open season to steal as much before 11/8/2016!!
Vote wisely 11/8/2016!! Vote Zambia forward!! Vote UPND!!
#chagwamustfall!!
I thank you!!
Stealing broad day light. Muzambiafye.
Which theft are you talking about no wonder you are negative about everything the govt is doing. Street lighting is very expensive, metal poles, 1500 watts bulbs, wiring, cement etc to cover 408 km.
Bufi,you people want to eat,how is that in kwacha? ifipunda kuma pockets!!
HOW COME MERELY ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND LIGHTING UP STREETS IN ZAMBIA IS SO DAMN EXPENSIVE IT’S AS IF WE IMPORT CEMENT FROM OVERSEAS. SURPRISINGLY ENOUGH THESE PROJECTS DO NOT EVEN INCLUDE STREET HIGH SPEED AND SECURITY CAMERAS.
“…Brenda Katongola that the council had noted with concern that most streetlights were being knocked down by careless motorists, especially during weekends.” JUST SAY WHEN MOTORISTS ARE DRUNK.
WHY IS IT THAT IMPROVEMENTS AND MAINTENANCE OF LUSAKA IS ONLY ALWAYS DONE IN THE INNER CITY OF LUSAKA? WHY CAN’T LCC START WITH THOSE FILTHY SLUMS WHERE CHOLERA IS LIKELY AND MOSTLY BREAK OUT?
I endorse the city counsel’s move.
THE STREETS NEED TO BE ELIMINATED.
Well done cuty fathers, good guidanse from PF
Hahahahahahaha! JOKE OF THE DAY! What are these clowns going to use to power these lights? LOAD SHEDDING????? From Kariba at 18%????
@Shaji Filabusi I agree something needs to be ELIMINATED, but it is not streets! It is these PF CLOWNS that are dreaming up projects so they can STEAL MORE!
And I think you should have said “good riddance to the USELESS PF” not good guidanse from PF
What about the chaps that break the lamps using catapults, how do we claim from them…? Perhaps civic education…but half of them do NOT go to school! yaba…
Look at makeni road its difficult to drive there at night without lights .don’t blame on pipo who heat at pole.we pay road tax for what ? Not to drive in dark ,not drive without lines on road . some of your signal its for just show off half of time it doesn’t even work .when govt make mistake give authorized to people to punish govt .
@ KATONDO BOYS: I havent been on LT for quite a while. Bro, are you the same that once supported PF or you are another KATONDO BOYS? Just asking…
No, our Katondo is not allowed to dabble in politics any more sadly he was made to choose between his job or politics. His been muzzled!!
This one is an annoying imposter, although you have to admire his opportunistic timing!! He says the opposite of our Katondo, very annoying though funny!
Mr Mwansa also urged members of the public to report to the police whenever they saw a vehicle hit into any of the poles by simply giving the vehicle registration number. Why not install speed & security cameras to work for 24 hours for you rather than members of the public who go to sleep and may need cameras for providing proof? Have Police & Courts stopped asking for evidence? Street lights are beneficial to both pedestrians and motorists. However, what motorists need most are drive wayroad reflectors & driving in the night in Zambia is terrible & especially for long distance. You drive as if you are drunk because the middle line & side curb do not manifest clearly. Please, install these drive wayroad reflectors for the safety & beauty of our roads in the night.
I think Mr true Zambia you are drunk with the kind of life you found yourself in which others worked hard for. Honestly you can recommend security cameras on all roads in Zambia today. Thats a long term measure; the same you if the govt buys the cameras you will call them careless spenders. Waite for 100 years when your god will be in power he will buy security cameras to secure all the animals and cattle including goats.
@Dan
You are right, security cameras can’t be installed on all roads in Zambia. Equally, routine road maintenance, street lighting, etc can’t be installed on all roads in Zambia. My contribution is on Lusaka (L400) to which the article refers and I quote from the article. “THE Lusaka City Council (LCC) has embarked on a routine road maintenance and street lighting installation project throughout Lusaka, under performance contracts and the L400.”
This is excellent news. Although lighting up Lusaka City centre will highlight what a sore eye watering sight Cairo Road and Cha Cha Road has become. When I was a teenager, those roads were a pleasure to rendezvous with teen friends…hanging out at the Star Burger joint checking out the guys before a cinema treat. Now it’s a horrible sight. Really, LCC, what is the Tourist Experience you are aiming for? LCC must undertake a smartening up of the city centre exercise. Too many shabby retail fronts with messy uncoordinated style. Make shop fronts uniform and attractive, and get rid of unsightly advertising and…..street traders. I think a lick of paint won’t be remiss and if not can Retailers and Businesses please scrub down the front of their shops and stop showing us up to the…
I think a lick of paint won’t be remiss and if not can Retailers and Businesses please scrub down the front of their shops and stop showing us up to the world!! A few flower displays will sweeten the air too!
@Patriot Abroad: I get you on my Katondo Boys query. Thanks! Now this makes alot of sense. Damn, I wonder why some people find it so hard to come up with their your own and unique ‘stage names’.
“Luapula Bize” too much “fleshi fisi”, that is why you can’t see the irony!!
Vote Wisely 11/8/2016!! Vote Zambia forward!! Vote UPND!!
#Chagwamustfall!!
I thank you!! Including “fleshi fisi!!”
All the newly constructed have street lights mounted but for months now after opening the roads the lights havent been switched on. Why? the roads in question are Chilumbulu, Barma, Vubu in Emmasdale and the whole industrial area. Please switch on lights on all these roads. May be they are for decorations just to make the road look beautiful in the day.