Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Nicholas Phiri says cities in Zambia are grappling with lack of facilities such as pedestrian walks and cycling tracks to enable walking and cycling easy for citizens.
Mr Phiri said this is why there is an urgent need to improve the road infrastructure to incorporate these facilities.
He said walking and cycling is not only important to facilitate the mobility of people but is critical for creating linkages between settlement and markets for both urban and rural areas.
Mr Phiri stated that despite its health benefits, walking and cycling provides easy mobility, affordable transport and a convenient way of accessing public services.
Mr Phiri was speaking during the official launch of the Walking the Un-walkable publication by Charter Cities Institute.
He added that the government’s goal is to facilitate convenience and safety for pedestrians while reducing demand for travel by motor vehicles.
Mr Phiri said the Ministry will work with other stakeholders in the built environment, including planners, architects, engineers and the private sector to shape the walking experience of pedestrians.
He commended the effort by Charter Cities Institute in bringing to light more urban challenges and making recommendations for better cities.
And Charter Cities Institute Africa Lead Mwanda Phiri said Walking the Un-Walkable in urban October is a month dedicated to raising awareness, promoting participation, generating knowledge and engaging the community in creating and promoting a better urban future.
Ms Phiri said that pedestrians account for 60 percent of road traffic accidents which emphasizes the need for better infrastructure.
“The publication we present today on walking the Un-Walkable is far more than a compilation of data, it is a key step towards enhancing pedestrian experiences in Lusaka.”] She stated that this initiative aligns with her intuition’s objective of building inclusive cities that are well planned, financed, built and effectively governed.
“Our work focuses on providing Technical Assistance to new city projects, advising and convening key stakeholders and influencing the global agenda through research, engagements, and strategic partnerships,” said Ms Phiri.
You are failing to provide affordable wunga and now dreaming about walkways.fuseke
We have simply regressed in our standards. The Great East road for example used to have cyclists’ lanes in the 1970s.
We are not whlte, we are black Africans. We move differently.we don’t need walkways
Kalya-Nyoko, the reason why the price of buusu is high is because you kalya-nyokoz borrowed $31 billion, and looted it among your foreign and thieving selves. Zambia cannot pay it, and now the people we owe the money are demanding that we use the money we used to subsidise mealie meal and petrol to pay them. It is your fault
But ba PF olo munali akawalala mu nasebenza. Just look at that road in the picture. It wasnt like that before you came in
N, name one road or infrastructure built by HH? Zeroooo. We borrowed and invested in infrastructure which your f00Iish father is enjoying. Fuseke karkaIa kobe
Do you have to make an official statement on such minute issues. Nangu Kufwaya ama points.
It is always disgusting to be seeing all those uncovered drainages built along newly built roads.Please cover them with concrete slabs.Slabs can be good walkways as well as help to prevent drainage-blockage by litter.Our roads in most towns look like incomplete works
Knowing Zambian governments he means to say “Government to build walkways Cycling tracks IN LUSAKA. The government thinks development should be seen in Lusaka only.
In places where there are walkways in lusaka (e.g. ministry of finance), motorists are parking vehicles on them and traffic police never stops them. No regard for pedestrians
Zambian Government Officials and their Politicians think talking without logic makes development !! Road reserves have been taken over by unplanned developments, even children’s play parks have been used as building plots for houses or small business establishments!! Where is he going to construct walk and cycling paths?? All these are supposed to be included in the city plans which should then be followed!! Is he going to demolish buildings that have been put on what were supposed to be walking and cycling paths??As he is speaking people are still demarcating and selling plots all over the countries without planning and servicing the areas! The Ministry of Infrastructure and Urban planning is only interested in money spinner PPPs for roads,not in urban planning!!