Friday, March 29, 2024

Zambia could use cobblestone technology in the road construction sector-UNDP

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Part of the tared Chirundu-Lusaka road under construction by China Henan in Chirundu District
Part of the tared Chirundu-Lusaka road under construction by China Henan in Chirundu District

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has observed that despite Zambia having the mineral resources that can be used for cobblestone technology in the road construction sector, the country is not utilizing the minerals.

UNDP country director Colleen Zamba has attributed this to the fact that the technology has not been fully embraced in the country, and the absence of skills in this area.

Ms. Zamba said that the cobblestone paving is a viable and cost effective way of road paving using the development mineral materials.

Speaking during the Cobblestone technology training course organised by the National Council for Construction, Ms Zamba said that the training in cobblestone paving comes at a critical stage when Zambia is implementing the Pave Zambia 2000 initiative, and meets the programme objective of promoting the use and management of development minerals.

Ms. Zamba said that the training programme in cobblestone paving has been deliberately tailored to target young people and women to enhance gender equality and address the challenges faced by women in the industry.

And National Council for Construction Executive Director Mathew Ngulube has said that the development minerals play a very critical role in the development of the country and construction industry.

Mr. Ngulube also stressed the importance of development minerals in job creation through value-addition, adding that it is for this reason that the NCC organized the training to help participants tap into the existing business potential.

One hundred and forty-seven participants have participated in the country training programs in mine and quarry management and entrepreneurship skills training under the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme since it was introduced.

18 COMMENTS

  1. Most European cities like Berlin,Moscow, Rome, London Warsaw etc used this cobblestones to pave most of street roads and squares. It is cost effective.

  2. Cobblestone and todays pavers are used under the same principle, many driveways in zambia have used them, its just that our road engineers at RDA do not think outside the box. They think Mc Adam is the only road surfacing material. One wonders why it has to be a UN person to tell us whats good for us.

    • Kiki upnd and undp are not the same. Upnd is for under5s donkeys who are clueless on opposition politics while undp is for intellectuals. The first time hh sounded wise was when he reaped what ecl said about kcm outsourcing of labour force.

  3. Guys even from a layman perspective I do not need to be told that while cobblestone technology may be feasible for domestic and CBD interior roads, it is not a realistic option ulterior and trunk roads connecting our cities. Don’t ask me to present you with empirical evidence to this effect….this is what is referred to as common sense.

  4. Cobblestones are labour intensive. You can also build roads from concrete slabs but you would rather let the likes of Dangote export your cement than think out of the box.

  5. HaJayJay did understand what a white person had said and he couldn’t attack him! If the same were said by a government official HaJayJay would have found words to attack like a rabid Dogwatchers in Zambia in spite not knowing the subject matter! Hahaha!

  6. Well said be UPND. This was long proposed by Sata. Zambia will surprise herself to find that she can learn from the old Roman Road making. The roads have been in existence for hundreds of years.

  7. Have you thought to think why the high ways of Rome, Italy or indeed any other European city are not made of cobblestone? Why the made the transition from cobblestone that was used for their town and village roads to now using tar and concrete? We are supposed to learn from the experience of others and not strive to go through their hard learned lessons too

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