Central Province Permanent Secretary, Milner Mwankampwe, has directed that remedial works on the vandalised section of the Mkushi-Serenje road be completed within one and a half days to ease traffic congestion.
Dr. Mwankampwe instructed the Road Development Agency (RDA), Zambia National Service (ZNS) and Mkushi Town Council to work together to ensure inconveniences to motorists are minimized.
He noted that the disruption has delayed travel, affected trade and hindered access to services and socio-economic activities.
“We need to create passage on either side of the road. I’m not going anywhere until this traffic is cleared,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary, who is camped at the site 30 kilometres from Mkushi town on one of the country’s busiest trunk roads, described the vandalism of culverts as sabotage and warned that perpetrators will be held accountable.
“We will be vigilant and ensure that anyone found involved in this act of sabotage is brought to book,” he added.
And RDA Regional Engineer, Main Chama, said the Agency will replace the 10 stolen Armco pipes with concrete culverts, explaining that vandals had unscrewed bolts to remove the pipes.
Meanwhile, Mkushi District Commissioner, Jonathan Kapungwe, said traffic police officers were immediately dispatched to the area to control congestion following the incident.
