Minister of Infrastructure and Public Works from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Willy Ngoopos, has visited Zambia and conducted a physical tour of the construction site for the Luapula bridge and the Kasomeno-Mwenda toll road in Luapula province.
Mr. Ngoopos, who arrived in the country through the Kashiba border post in Mwense district, was welcomed by Luapula Province Minister Nickson Chilangwa.
Mr. Ngoopos, who is also that country’s Vice Prime Minister, explained that President Felix Tshisekedi sent him to Zambia to show commitment to the bilateral project that the two countries want to develop.
He said his coming to Zambia is also President Tshisekedi’s assurance to President Edgar Lungu that the DRC is willing to execute the project.
He added that the Kasomeno- Mwenda toll road is one of President Tshisekedi’s priority projects that he intends to deliver with Zambia during his first term in office.
“I have been sent here by President Felix Tshilombo Antoine Tshisekedi. I have come to see the actual construction site of the Luapula river bridge and the Kasomeno-Mwenda road. The President (Tshisekedi) before he left for Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) where he has assumed the African Union chairmanship gave me strict instructions to be here and assure his brother President Edgar Lungu that this is our project and we want it now,” he Ngoopos.
And Mr. Chilangwa said the arrival of Mr. Ngoopos for the tour is a huge boost towards the implementation of the project.
Mr. Chilangwa, who was accompanied by his Permanent Secretary Charles Mushota, said he is hopeful that early works on the project earmarked to start in March this year will proceed.
He said President Lungu and his Congolese counterpart have given their full support to the project and that no more delays are expected.
Mr. Chilangwa has since thanked the Congolese government for the warm reception during a Zambian ministerial delegation’s recent visit to Kinshasa.
“Let me take this opportunity on behalf of our President (Lungu) to thank you Honourable Minister for electing to come and tour the construction site of this important project. Please accept our heartfelt gratitude for giving us your warm reception when we visited DRC. We met President Tshisekedi to discuss the project and we are grateful,” Mr. Chilangwa said.
Mr. Ngoopos has since left Zambia for Kinshasa.
We have been waiting to see these works to start and it’s great that the two countries have shown commitment
Election year. Fo.ols paradise. Enough said. Soon these stunts and photo ops will be replaced by dereliction and abandonment. Why are we always hoodwinked in election year?
All they think of is toll roads not providing proper roads through which motorists already pay through tax.
The PF government is working hard it has taken development in all parts of the country Luapula is looking beautiful
It’s heart warning to hear of such news…and to hear of the commitment from both countries
This is good project hope this time it going to be done
GREAT. PLEASE, let this project begin as soon as possible. Once finished and the road direct road from Mwense to Tanzania also built, the economic status of Zambia will never be the same. And Luapula Province in particular will rapidly develop. This project is very important to Zambia-DR Congo and Africa. It will archieve a lot towards the land-linking the whole African continent. WELL DONE ZAMBIA and DR CONGO GOVERNMENTS.
THANKS VERY MUCH TO BOTH GOVERNMENTS.
Yes. It has become a money-grabbing scheme. But to be honest to them the volumes of toll gates must be increased if they want to gather anything from that avenue. Other than that the motoring population of Zed is not enough to turn in anything significant.
De javu. I have heard this before!
Was I dreaming?
What a name! Willy Ngo ops!
The “working PF govt” is busy making toll gates. I wish that’s how busy they were repairing roads with that money.
Good luck DRC for getting into partnership with bankrupt govt, u will end paying for the project and we will take that as another loan thank you, as Botswana on the Kazungula Bridge, they will explain what it is like dealing with this pathetic f000ls govt
Good luck DRC for getting into partnership with bankrupt govt, u will end paying for the project and we will take that as another loan thank you, as Botswana on the Kazungula Bridge, they will explain what it is like dealing with these w@nkers in this dull govt
How’s this being financed? Haven’t we defaulted on wht we owe already? Is this too much to ask? Wht message are sending to those we owe money which we cannot pay? That we can pay at a time of our own choosing?
Nemwine- these projects are funded by haulage, bus companies and you the poor motorists that’s why this lazy reckless govt loves them.
Development after development. Mwanyala
Ikaleni fye. You should have Rebuilt the Great North Road from Serenje to Nakonde.
Infrastructural growth plays a key role in boosting the socio-economic development of the country. Long way to go President Lungu.
Some fools are saying that this is fake and development projects are just a part of the political campaign of President Lungu. Why they don’t see that Zambia is developed a lot since 2016. And no development happens in a day!
If the country has the best roads for transportation then automatically more transport of goods will take place and help in economic development which country need the most as we suffered a lot due to pandemic.
The government has initiated the development and infrastructural projects across Zambia to uplift its economy. One of the examples is the construction of the Kashikishi-Chienge-Lunchinda road that has generated interest of local and international firms to invest in Chienge District.
A good road network is a must if the country wants to progress towards development. This is really a piece of great news.
President Lungu has kept his promise throughout the year. Under his leadership better roads, health facilities, clean drinking water, schools, hospitals, infrastructural development, rural development, and so on…has happened. Even haters will agree with us. President Lungu is a clear winner of the August elections…
Things could be different if President Lungu was not our leader. He has successfully managed to progress towards development even in the time of the Covid-19 pandemic.
How come with all the vulgarity from one person here, he is never censored while some of us are not published just for mentioning a name! What is happening LT? Who are you afraid of?
Haha haha hahaha, Oh Kikikiikikikiki, ba Mwankole taxing villagers – toll roads is not developments, in the colonial days my grandfathers used to pay tax ‘Umusonko’ to colonialists. Was that development by colonialists, you may say ‘yes’, but that was slavery and discontinued after independence. Its back with Zambian leadership.
# SAINT. Couldn’t agree with you more. LT is a dubious entity.
# SAINT. Couldn’t agree with you more. LT will be exposed after August, 2021 elections.