President Hakainde Hichilema is next week expected to commission the construction of the Solwezi -Kipushi and the Mutanda-Kasempa-Kaoma roads in North-Western Province.
North Western Province Minister, Robert Lihefu said the President is expected next week in the Province to commission the 109km Solwezi-Kipushi and the Mutanda -Kasempa- Kaoma road project that is being constructed under the public private partnership.
The media reports that Mr Lihefu said the construction of the two roads will accelerate regional integration and economic development in the province.
“These landmark projects will accelerate regional integration, reduce transport cost for producers, stimulate investments and directly improve the livelihoods of our people in the Province,” he said.
Mr Lihefu disclosed this when he graced the 61st Independence Anniversary celebrations held at Solwezi Independence Stadium yesterday.
He added that through Public Private Partnerships, four districts in the Province will benefit from the construction of township roads.
“Districts such as Mushindamo, Kalumbila, Solwezi and Kasempa will receive township roads from the same construction. Therefore, our four districts will have nice township roads,’’ Mr Lihefu added.
Mr Lihefu also highlighted some of the key developmental strides made by the UPND government in the past four years of its administration.
He cited the commissioning of the US$1.25 billion Kansanshi Mine S3 expansion project in August this year, noting that the expansion had extended the mine’s operational lifespan by nearly 20 years and has created a lot of employment opportunities.
Mr Lihefu further revealed that over 900 teachers were recruited across the Province to improve on the teacher–pupil ratio in schools while 1,664 health workers were deployed to various health facilities to strengthen healthcare delivery services in the province.
“Under free education policies and targeted recruitment, 980 teachers have been posted to North western Province since 2022 and 1,664 health workers were deployed to various health facilities in the province,” Mr Lihefu said.
‘’In the agriculture sector, a total of 67,973 farmers benefited from the Farmers Input Support Programme (FISP), while an additional 400 farmers received support under the Sustainable Agriculture Finance Facility (SAFF),” he said.
He noted that these interventions contributed significantly to the bumper harvest recorded during the 2024/2025 farming season.
The Minister also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving social services, citing the ongoing rehabilitation of Solwezi General Hospital and plans to construct another district hospital to better serve the residents.
The Provincial Minister urged citizens to continue upholding peace and unity while reflecting on the country’s development journey and achievements under the New Dawn Government.
Meanwhile, North-Western Province Freedom Fighters Association Chairperson, Eunice Sebele thanked the government for upholding the spirit of humanism and appealed for a National policy to safeguard the welfare of surviving freedom fighters.
And in his Message of solidarity during the celebrations, Fr Richard Mubanga of St Alban’s Anglican Church urged citizens to preserve Zambia’s legacy of peace and unity.
“As citizens we have a collective responsibility to safeguard these values through our actions, our works and commitments to national service,” Fr Mubanga.
This year’s Independence celebrations were held under the theme, “61 Years of Peace and Unity, Building Resilience and a Prosperous Zambia.”
Where is the minister of transport and communication??
These are maintenance works that you are calling construction. Ubufolo nabwena te sana.
It is not all maintenance and you have no idea of the work involved