THE construction of the popular and economically important Mongu-Kalabo Road in Western Province has opened up market to the local people with the Zambian products being on demand in the neighbouring Angola as their pricing has become competitive.
The traders in Mongu were unable to hide their joy for the construction of the Mongu-Kalabo Road which had been a political rhetoric and campaign tool since Zambia’s independence in 1964.
A spot check by the Daily Nation in Mongu yesterday revealed that Zambian food products such as eggs, tomatoes, mealie-meal and traditional super maheu were on demand by Angolan nationals who were currently trekking to Mongu from Kalabo, a border town with Angola, prompting traders to hike the price of goods exported to Angola by 100 percent.
One of the traders Simonda Lubasi said a tray of eggs in Angola was selling between K60 and K65 and that most of the people opted to take their businesses to the bordering Angola.
Mr Lubasi said the road had transformed the livelihood of the people in Western Province because they were now able to travel from Mongu to Kalabo in good time and at affordable transport costs.
“People used to pay about K170 using water transport and would take the whole day travelling, but for now we are paying K30 to cover the same distance using the road which is really appreciated. So transports costs have been reduced by more than 150 percent but our goods have gained value,” Mr Lubasi said.
Mr Lubasi said the market had been opened up and that the people of Kalabo were now able to come and buy their goods in Mongu within a short period of time.
“We thank the Government for this huge development. Western Province has now seen tangible development which cannot be disputed by anyone who means well. As traders, we are happy because we are managing to sell our local Zambian products to Angola and this is what we call development,” he said.
Mr Lubasi urged the people of Western province to appreciate the development that was brought closer to them, saying it was the right of every Zambian to benefit from the national cake.
And Western Province permanent secretary Mwangala Liomba said the region was one of the provinces that had benefited exponentially in terms of economic infrastructure development.
Mr Liomba disclosed that the more than US$ 380 million Mongu-Kalabo road was the most expensive project in the country and that the people should guard the road jealously.
He said that the road was now a gateway to those who were going to and coming from Angolan.
Mr Liomba said so far the Government had engaged the contractor to work on the connection from Sikongo area up to the bordering Angola.
Mr Liomba explained that the road had enhanced the ties between the two countries and that a lot of business was expected.
“Our local Zambian products are highly on demand in the neigbouring Angola and this is what we want to see. Businesses are growing to sustainable levels and the livelihood of the people is changing,” he said
What has NEZ haaa! not NEZ what has HH got to say about this?
This is tax payers money what has hh got to do with it,but with his confirmed abilities he could have performed 5times more.Kudos go to levy mwanawasa for intiating this project.Waiting to praise PF for the King Lewanika University and chimbwi no plan stadium.By the development is a right no one has done my Barotseland a favour ,just get on with the work you lazy bones.
The is good news initiative by late Mwanawasa
Since independence iwe
A $300million road mostly used by village cyclists and it has no bicycle lane..really laughable!!
They cant see that road. you cant live the rest of your life being negative, learn to say thank you even to the one who gives you a “Dondo”.
To be successful “surround yourself with positive people”.
You should travel and see what a $100m road looks like….$300m is a lot of money..its no wonder you are now begging from the devil in Washington at IMF selling yr souls!!
@3.1 Jay Jay,yes $100 can do a very good road and for the greater part of our country which is generally flat we do not expect the figure these guys quote for upgrading even an already existing road. There appears a general inflation of figures on these road contracts. However, for the road that has been built in a sandy flood plain,the figures may be closer to reality because the terrain is not so adapted to road construction! For now we need to say thank you for the job well done until we prove otherwise!
transport has become cheap then in your right minds you hike a tray of eggs.
@isis.zm they where better off without the road as the tray of eggs was cheaper
@zero boyz 2 Whether initiated by Sir Roy Welensky the bridge is now a reality and people can use it. Trying attribute only bad things to PF will not add value to your well being.
Proof, PF means a united Zambia. Maybe now the Westerners will vote fairly and not allow HH and his twisted party poison their minds. They can Sonta for themselves. @1 Ken, reason NEZ and his mates are silent is because they are off to try and bomb the project! I mean a saving in transport K170 to K30 is astronomical!
Despite giving them development they are upnd supporters. Learn to appreciate what God has done for you through PF. God will punish you for not being a greatful province. Support a part which has given you a VP . May God speak to you.
This is all good but if you are going to build a hideously overpriced $300+ million road better organise yourselves on a commerical farmer level…not marketeers growing tomatoes, onions in the back yard to sell at the border.
Stop being bitter my friend. Did you work on the road to know that if was overpriced? Were you involved in the procurement? Do you know what kind of engineering goes into building a road over water areas which are unstable. Stop cheating yourself and come back to reality! Bitterness will not help you, remember you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Do you think people who are seeing what development has been brought to their areas can be cheated by your negativity? Only negative people like you will keep thinking like that and that is why all you negative characters will never form goverment. My advice to you is…DONT HATE THE PLAYER, HATE THE GAME. and for your own information, PF is playing the game very well right now! In case you just awoke from a year long coma, PF is in…
I am not just making hollow utterances..without saying much i can tell you that I am very familar with this sector…no wonder you are happy to be coughing up to $1million per kilometre of poorly constructed roads. Do you know that there are various procurement routes to reduce costs? Do you know that their various value engineering technics to reduce costs? Its your children who will pay for all this recklessness…wake up from your folly!!
Jay Jay politics aside. .this road is transforming lives of ordinary traders. On equipping the farmer it is a good point..however the question is what should start first the field or the road providing access to the market?
That is a MARVEL. Please people of Western Province learn to show GRATITUDE. THE BILL GATES OF ZAMBIA MR HH. has never built anything for you even in the name of CHARITY. It’s not healthy to be so GULLIBLE AND NAIVE AT ALL TIMES. Its also not good to be both SPIRITUALLY AND PHYSICAL DULL. ONE CAN HAVE A SLOW MENTAL RE-ACTION TIME SOME TIMES ,BUT MUST BE SPIRITUALLY INTELLIGENT AT ALL TIMES. Next time please vote FAIRLY AND INTELLECTUALLY.
Gratitude to who you fool.The people of western province would if the same amount quoted was managed by themselves built 3times similar roads.No one as done them any favour waufwa.
I thought some opposition parties were saying you cannot eat roads.
That was Nevers Mumba when he came to Mansa as if it’s government duty to feed people directly. The government is there to create an environment such as roads to enable us feed ourselves.
mmmmmmmmmmmmm
Govt money is public no individual should claim any responsibility ruling or opposing.
More development is needed, the province is really under developed so far very little to sing about.
How many people from western province have held top government posts? Numerous ….Arthur Wina first finance minister, Nalumino Mundia Prime Minister, Sikota and Nakatindi Wina, Mutendango, the Litunga as MCC for the region …too many more …
why didn’t they act?
What a poorly written story! Can any of you follow what is being said?
Most of you people in Western Province are NOT grateful for what the PF government has done to your province! What has been written in the above passage is just rhetoric that is not coming from the bottom of your heart! Your words are totally different from your thoughts! The better picture of your thinking was reflected in the way you voted in the 11th August, 2016! “Mutasha kalikwisaya” also “banobe ulipo ngawafumapo kuti bayamba nolukasa apo lunyantile”.
But the 74km stretch to the border is hell run. One has to drive in 4X4 gear throughout the 4 hour trip. Yes, you heard me right – it takes four hours to cover a distance equaling Lusaka to Chisamba! No other vehicle showed up for the 8 hours I stayed at Sikongo immigration outpost. To me this talk about trade boom with Angola is empty talk until the road to the border line is paved.
The bridge is worth the money that was involved in its construction. Westerners must tell their children and grand children that H.E. President Micheal Chilufya (late) state counsel initiated it and the project was completed by his successor H.E. Edgar Changwa lungu President of the republic ( 2015-2021) finished the bridge. Mwanawassa bridge is in Luapula.