Litunga urges RDA to complete Mongu roads rehabilitation quickly

THE Litungu Chief who is the ruler of the Lozi people of Mongu has urged the Road Development Agency (RDA) to ensure that construction of major roads in most parts of Western Province are completed in time in order to spur development in the area.

Speaking when RDA officials led by Board Chaiperson Samuel Mukupa called on him at his palace in Limulunga yesterday, the Litunga said the Agency should ensure that works on roads such as the Katunda –Lukulu road are worked on in order to ensure that people can have easy access to the Provincial capital in Mongu .

Western Province Permanent Secretary Mwangala Liomba said the Katunda–Lukulu road has been in a deplorable condition for many years and hence people have for a long time being crying for a long been time for the road to be worked on.

Meanwhile , Road Development Agency (RDA) says they agency would ensure that the K147.5 Million rehabilitation of the Kafue hook Bridge pillars in Mitete District which has developed cracks is completed within the 24 months timeframe.

RDA Board Chairperson Samuel Mukupa confirmed the development when he led a team of RDA officials and Journalists during a tour of road projects in Western Province.

Mr Mukupa urged China –Henan construction who is working on the Kafue hook bridge to expedite its works so that the bridge which was built some 40 years ago does not deteriorate further.

He called on the contractor to ensure that a belly bridge is constructed within 6 months so as to enabler a smooth flow of traffic during the time the pillars of the bridge were being worked.

‘’ You have to ensure that the belly bridge is urgently constructed so as to allow a smooth flow of vehicles as the Government is in a hurry want to link Western Province with neighboring Angola , therefore there is need for you to expedite the works on the bridge’’, Mr Mukupa said.

He added that when the works on the Kafue hook bridge are completed on time, tourists would be motivated to visit the Kafue National Park for them to see animals as they navigate the river.

China Henan Assistant Resident Engineer Sivananthan Kokulakanta said the works on the bridge which commenced in August 2015 had delayed to commence because the contractor was negotiating with the Zambia Wildlife Authority ( ZAWA) in order to allow his firm to set up a camp within the National park.

Mr Kokulakanta assured the RDA officials that the works on the bridge would be completed within the 24 months contract.

Meanwhile, Mr Mukupa said RDA was going to fully rehabilitate about 80 kilometers stretch from Tetatyoye to Kaoma district which was in a bad state.

He said although construction of roads during the rainy season always had its own challenge , the Agency would ensure that works which have been earmarked for rehabilitation are completed so as to fulfill the Government’s agenda of linking up the country .

Mr Mukupa said RDA was not only working on uplifting roads in Western Province to bituminous standards but was also rehabilitating the 17.3 kilometers stretch from Kaoma town centre to Mwenemutondo area which caters for the rural people who are predominantly farmers.

Western Province RDA Regional Manager Gershom Mwagombe said the agency was also patching up potholes on the Kaoma –Mongu road and other parts of the province in order to ease the transport constraints faced by motorists.