Minister of Finance Felix Mutati says road projects such as the Link Zambia 8000, Pave Zambia 2000, L-400 and C-400 will continue to ensure a proper road network that will attract investment.
Mr Mutati said Government wants to get back on track with its development plans in view of the economic gains the country has continued recording.
This is according to a statement issued by Ministry of Finance head of media and public relations Chileshe Kandeta yesterday.
“To improve the road network in the country, K8.6 billion has been set aside for building and repairing roads,” Mr Mutati said.
He said Government attaches great importance to the development of the road sector because of the role it plays in accelerating development.
Mr Mutati said Government will also undertake more road projects in collaboration with the private sector under the private private partnership (PPP) arrangement.
“To make it less expensive to build roads, Government will do more work with the private sector using the public private partnership model.
“For example, the Lusaka-Ndola and Ndola-Kasumbalesa roads will be upgraded to dual carriageways. The Kasomeno-Mwenda road which joins Zambia to the Democratic Republic of Congo will also be upgraded using PPP model,” Mr Mutati said.
He said undertaking road projects under the PPP arrangement is in line with Government’s policy of encouraging private businesses to supplement its efforts in taking development to all parts of the country.
Government is undertaking various road infrastructure projects countrywide which include the Chingola-Solwezi road, Solwezi-Kipushi road, Kitwe-Chingola dual carriageway, Lusaka-Chirundu road, Mpika-Chinsali road and Chinsali-Nakonde road.
Let’s build for the future as Africas population is to double in the next 30yrs
Give contracts to professionals and NOT poor corrupt Zambians cos remember always, cheap of always expensive in the long run. I am pretty certain there are good road construction companies around including, Chinese and South African Boers.
We want industrialization which needs electricity so would we be better suited to allocate funds to increased power generation. Tell me the economic benefits we have derived from all the money spent on the rural roads. Can anyone quantify the kwacha addition to the e onomy of these roads. Mr mutati is good at rhetoric.