Friday, March 29, 2024

Government receives grant from Japan for Luangwa bridge upgrade

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Government has received a grant from Japan for the redevelopment of the Luangwa bridge. Luangwa bridge is a key piece of infrastructure required to support increased trade traffic capacity on the Nakara corridor, connecting to Beira port in Mozambique.

Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji disclosed this in Chipata last evening when he paid a courtesy call of paramount chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni people in the Eastern Province.

Mr. Malanji, who was companied by Eastern Province Minister, Makebi Zulu and ruling Patriotic Front vice chairperson for mobilisation Geoffrey Mwamba, said the Luangwa bridge, which was built in the 1950s, is old and needs to be upgraded but did not disclose how much the grant is.

He said government wants to fully exploit the agriculture potential in the Eastern province.

The Foreign Affairs Minister further said government’s focus is to give impetus to the cotton farmers so that they can export the commodity to Turkey in Europe.

“We want to have one big farmer who will engage others in out grower scheme for cotton. Turkey is a big market for textile and we want to export our cotton,” Mr. Malanji said.

He said groundnut farmers will also be supported as modalities are in place to start exporting peanut butter to Saudi Arabia.

And paramount chief Mpezeni welcomed the decision government has taken to help cotton farmers and boost agriculture in general.

The traditional leader also praised government for paying attention to the development of road infrastructure.

He said working on the roads in Mambwe and Chipangali will ease the movement of cotton and groundnut produce to the market.

“It is good that you work on the Great East Road from Luangwa to Lusaka. You must also look at roads in Chipangali and Mambwe so that farmers can easily move their cotton to the central market,” he said.

He however lamented that currently, some cotton buyers exploit farmers hence the idea to bring in an organised buyer for export is welcome.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs is in the Eastern Province to look at areas of economic potential that could be facilitated for international investment partnerships and trade.

16 COMMENTS

  1. LUANGWA BRIDGE IS A SUSPENSION BRIDGE ON BEARINGS THAT CAN RAISE THE BRIDGE IF THE WATER LEVEL IS CLOSER TO THE DECK ALSO IT CAN SWAY SIDEWAYS IF THE END PILLARS FAIL. JAPANESE DONT HAVE THIS TECHNOLOGY ITS BETTER THE MONEY BE CHANNELED TO 2021 ELECTIONS THEN ASK DENMARK THE ONES WHO DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED THE BRIDGE TO GIVE US A GRANT

  2. A country with so many toll gates ..yet can not build a simple suspension bridge spanning…50 years from Independence…proud beggars of Lazy Lungu

  3. A grant is not begged for. It is called a grant for a reason. It is granted by the giver. No one forced Japan to grant the money. If they can see that this will foster relationships with a very promising economy like Zambias then who are we to refuse. Continue wallowing in old care home amafi there abroad

  4. This minister is so lazy that all he could have done is read the documents on projects that KK built from our own resources. These PF fellows have no class and are as lazy as the one who appointed them to jobs way above their backbones.

  5. A grant ka! Hehehehehe. White people say that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Now the Japs have seen the Chinese and they do not want to fall behind. Japan needs Africa more than China. Japan has no land. Japan has been an imperial power. So, be kevu.

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