Thursday, March 28, 2024

Copperbelt roads are death traps – Matambo

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Copperbelt Province, Minister Elisha Matambo has described the current state of roads in the province as ” death traps.”

Mr Matambo says 95 percent of roads in the mining region are in what he termed as “horrible” state and that need urgent attention to prevent any loss of lives.

Mr Matambo said this in Ndola when he hosted a Parliamentary committee on budget and planning adding that the roads are in a very bad state and have hindered development in many parts of the province.

It is painful learning that the province that contributes a larger percentage to the country’s resource envelope has most of its roads in a dilapidated state.

“The roads are in a very bad state and to me I can say they are death traps. Minsundu, Mokambo-Mufulira, Ndola-Mufulira and many other roads give a very sorry sight.

“ You cannot have a place where you collect meaningful revenue and yet not attending to the infrastructure such as roads facilitating the movement of goods and services,” Mr. Matambo said.

And Committee member, Davison Mung’andu wondered why most roads on the Copperbelt have remained in a bad state when the province had a well-advertised project called “Copperbelt 400 kilometer road project.”

Mr Mung’andu who is also Chama South MP said the previous regime boasted a lot about the C400 road project whose aim was to rehabilitate many roads in the province but questioned what could have happened.

And Mirriam Chonya, another committee member, commended the Copperbelt provincial administration for advocating for meaningful development in the region.

Ms. Chonya, however, urged the provincial administration to ensure that women led cooperatives and entrepreneurs are also considered when it comes to awarding of contracts and empowerments.

“I’m happy that the provincial administration has the right people to drive the development agenda on the Copperbelt.,” she said.

She assured Mr Matambo that the committee will continue taking such matters to relevant offices and ensure that they are given maximum attention.

32 COMMENTS

  1. If indeed you’re concerned about the status of the roads then suspend toll plazas at Kafulafuta, Lwanshimba and Kalulushi. Ask your Central province counterpart to also suspend the one at Manyumbi. It doesn’t make sense for Government to continue to collect toll fees on such roads

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  2. Matambo must also address the issue of trucks ferrying the black mountain slag. They are a disaster in waiting.

  3. Mr Mung’andu who is also Chama South MP said the previous regime boasted a lot about the C400 road project whose aim was to rehabilitate many roads in the province but questioned what could have happened. STOP DWELLING IN THE PAST AND DO YOUR WORK.

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  4. These 1d10ts are forgetting that they will be judged by works and not what they are condemning.

    Give people solutions. We are tired of your complaints. If PF has not done anything, please do something. You won’t match PF in terms of structure development.

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  5. #6 Blago… this is just a half truth. While the job is not one hundred percent, there is a substantial improvement in road works. Take the access to Lwangwa township in Kitwe. You don’t have use Ndola dual carriage, you can use the Nkana East route all the way from Chisokone Market. Kitwe to Chingola now takes about half the time. Of course there areas still needing work but not the way Matambo is trying to paint it. All he can do is continue where the others left instead of crying like an old woman.

  6. I remember the crooks in PF govt giving more than half billion contract to AVIC to do up the roads in CB …half of all that money was looted.

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  7. But you are the government….FIX THEM!! That is why we voted for you!
    WE have the right to complain . YOU fix the roads bwana Minister.

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  8. The clique of PF mercenaries’ ( crooks) that have invaded this media is alarming.

    But people already know your plans guys. You are fighting a losing battle and please note that your strategies are always outdated.

    CIFUNDO INE !!!!!!

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  9. Not only Copperbelt roads are not up to scratch, the entire country is suffering. Governments are always doing the same thing: THEY FORGET THAT ROADS NEED MAINTENANCE and consequently never budget for it. Especially the horrible incompetent PF government of Edgar China Lungu is STILL boasting about all the infrastructure that they put in place (with Chinese money) but not one Kwacha was reserved for maintenance! Looks like the New Dawn government is making the same mistake!

  10. #10 Nkalamu. I take offense…. when people use the media to complain it means they’re not happy not because they are PF or something like that. We pay taxes and we therefore demand quality service. If the Upnd (I don’t know your membership) is subsidizing you, it doesn’t mean that everything is ok for everyone. Let people talk or provide services and they will keep quiet.

  11. Deja Vu – we can ignore the past because billions of dollars was routed to CB…you are begging from the IMF because of PF and Lazy Lungu’s recklessness and corruption…yes I said because you won’t say it.

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  12. CAN SOMEONE ENLIGHTEN LT
    THE MEANING OF FREE SPEECH
    AND THE CORRECT USE OF ALGORITHMS
    THEY DONT SEEM TO HAVE ANY IDEA

  13. “Mr Mung’andu who is also Chama South MP said the previous regime boasted a lot about the C400 road project whose aim was to rehabilitate many roads in the province but questioned what could have happened.”

    Uku kutumpa sana. Most copperbelt towns got a facelift in terms of road rehabilitation, which included Mufulira, Kitwe, Chingola and Ndola. Just get on to work and do more than what the previous regime did. The issue of everytime deflecting attention to unfilled promises is making you look like clowns who are at seas with what to offer Zambians.

    You surely have to know that developing a country is like a relay, just pick that button and run faster to win the race, ok?

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  14. Ba Matambo naimwe, please be honest and not always politicking.
    A number of roads were rehabilitated on the coppetbelt, including kitwe, kalulushi, chingola, Mufulira, etc.
    Of course more needs to be done, especially Mokambo to Mufulira, Mufulira Ndola, etc.
    So just pick up from what was done and do your part.
    Why did you come into power if all you do is complain? Just fix things kabili, otherwise you’ll become irrelevant.

  15. “ You cannot have a place where you collect meaningful revenue and yet not attending to the infrastructure such as roads facilitating the movement of goods and services,”
    But who is he complaining to? He doesnt know he is thegovernment. Thegovernment has to fix the roads, not cry about them

  16. This minister is always complaining like he is from Kapoto or St Anthony shanties, You are a minister Bwana in the corridors of Power… YOURS IS TO FIX NOT TO COMPLAIN!!!!

  17. The road from Riverside through Parklands past Builders is very good. Chimwemwe has some good roads…. In Chingola we had seen seen some good roads. Even in Mufurila there are some good roads. Ndola even better…….
    UBUFI TABWAWAMA!!!!! just start doing your part. It is your time now to work on Chibuluma road in Kitwe AND the road from the Hospital Round about to town Center. Do your part kabili ni forward!!!!

  18. HE IS NOT COMPLAINING he is highliting to the P C Mr Matambo said this in Ndola when he hosted a Parliamentary committee on budget and planning adding that the roads are in a very bad state and have hindered development in many parts of the province. Now that the rains are over Hnr Charles Milupi , RDA , and all C.B Councils should be on the ground and ensure roads are rehabilitated on the copperbelt…

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  19. The first three months, people can give you a pass about blaming the previous govt. Beyond that, UPND govt is on the clock. You`ll be judged on your performance. Zambians are interested in results and not empty rhetoric.

  20. Ukikikikikkwakwakwa kwekwekwekwe!
    De ja vu wandepula!
    Uuuuwiiii!
    The nigga elisha is …. crying like a woman!
    Yaba.
    My world, I miss Lusakatimes sometimes.
    You guys make me laugh big time.
    Indeed, PF is now watching on the side lines and matabo is tryna politic. Chaps want to run the country on theories, they can’t get practical.

  21. PF should apologize to Zambians for the poor state of roads in Zambia. PF can not be trusted again since they are all thieves who impoverished the nation with corruption on a grand scale where even fictitious bank accounts were opened to siphon the money from all projects and supplying air.
    Thieves should be jailed and recover all stolen assets for the benefit of Zambians.

  22. PF will be a factor whether we like or not. Of the funds PF borrowed, only about 30% was actually used in road construction. The rest was stolen. With the hue debt, where are UPND goin to find money to build new roads? We underplay how badly PF affected this country. We’ll the negative impact of PF beyond this UPND term. Debt servicing alone will hit us so hard i fear for our immediate future. Unless Eurobonds and China write off Zambia’s debt, lets be realistic and accept that the stench of PF stealing will haunt us for a while.

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