THE Government has released a total of K190 million to pay road contractors of which K65 million will go towards the construction of the Chingola-Solwezi road.
Works and Supply Minister Ronald Chitotela said Government last week released about K190 million for road works saying that K65 million would go towards the construction of Chingola-Solwezi road.
Mr Chitotela said the Government was committed to improving the road infrastructure of various roads in North-western province to provide more secure transport of goods and passengers for all the roads users.
The rehabilitation works for the Chingola-Solwezi road were being undertaken by China Geo Engineering Corporation Southern African Limited and Buildcon Investment Limited.
The minister said the construction of the 168Kilometer (Km) road had been delayed because of financial difficulties.
He said the recent release of resources from the Ministry of Finance signifies Government’s commitment to the development of the road infrastructure in the country particularly the Chingola-Solwezi road.
Mr Chitotela said this when he inspected the road works on the Chingola-Solwezi road with Finance Minister Felix Mutati, National Development Planning Minister Lucky Muluusa and their Commerce, Trade and Industry counterpart Margaret Mwanakatwe.
“This is the reason why I have come here with the Minister of Finance and Commerce (Solwezi) to inspect the road works so that when I begin to knock on their doors for funding I won’t have difficulties. We have heard the cries of the people of North western province on this road and we cannot give it a blind eye,” he said.
“I want to assure the people of Zambia and North western that the Chingola-Solwezi road was an economic road we will ensure that we give it priority and I am grateful to the minister of finance just last week he released payment to the three contractors on this road,” Mr Chitotela said.
He said the Government had an outstanding arrear with China Geo Engineering Corporation amounting to K125 million.
Mr Chitotela said the Government had paid about K40 million towards the construction of lot one and three saying for lot two only K10 million was paid out of K17 million.
“By the first week of November we are making another payment and the challenge is the period the rain is about to start and the message to the contractor let us pay particular attention to the dangerous points that might make these roads unpassable ,” he said.
Mr Chitotela said it was important for the mining companies to work in coordination with the road contractor for the development of North western province.
For Miyenga-Mwinilunga road the Government had signed a constract for financing of the road network.
Commenting on the road network, Ms Mwanakatwe said it was important that the road works were completed to facilitate for trade.
“Anything that is going to impair the movement of goods in and out of this zone which is a huge economic zone is going to give me a headache and this is why I am here to ensure there is a smooth transfer of goods and services between now and the rain season so that we don’t disrupt business,” Ms Mwanakatwe said
We just hope the contractors will speed up the works esp in those bad areas live diversions. Do a nice job and quickly put up the toll gate so that you start collecting revenue.
PF lies are at variance with reality.
FQM promises $50m for rehabilitation & PF coincidentally releases K65m for the same. Is it just to beat off shame caused by FQM so as to save face? Rains are here esp NWP so how do u tar the road? Come next year u’ll still be commissioning tarring the same road.
Why does it hav 2take FQM 2initiate it when nonproductive Muchinga received so much from Eurobond? Suppose NWP had no minerals what little wud PF even promise to do there?
Anyway God in his wisdom endowed NWP with N/resources. Deny NWP development u are punishing yofellow tribesmen that trekked 2Solwezi 2work zmines. Its not only Kaondes, Luvales, Lundas, Luchazis etc that use that road. Even Kazimu Sata was coming from Solwezi when he had a mishap.
PF think!…
PF think!
Reality has hit u & u need money from Solwezi mines!
No more pretences!
So basically had we not charter a plane to carry the president for $400,000, we would have channelled the money towards the road but because our ECL loves luxurious life so we spend it.
PF has been commissioning and releasing money to do the solwezi road from 2011 at some point they even said they had deployed 3 contractors and yet nothing happened please lets audit the account to know where the so called disbursements are going.Their claim of releasing money thru that former chisokone markert conman is fake,the announcement is meant to ride on FQM initiative.Liers in the morning,afternoon,and evening.Viwoneni vi masilu.
Funny enough FQM have contributed the same figure…lies lies and misappropriation.
u are right. I as well wondered about it.moreover PF is very broke this time and no country can lend Zambia any money this time.
We cant fait to see That road on a good shape ,thanks bwana ministre keep it up.
That road must Be given priority .i used That road its terible .
Just do your Job u swines.3 ministers touring road for what,? U want to show off as if the money is from yr pockets Dogs.
Disgusting.
Totally clueless government.
How did Zambia end up with this bunch of thieves in charge of the National coffers?
The only thing they have managed ssuccessfully is to steal as much as they can and rig elections.
I THOUGHT FIRST QUANTUM WAS PAYING FOR THAT ROAD. PF PROPAGANDA AT IT S BEST VERY FUNNY LOL
Just wait and see next you will hear the theives had to borrow so many millions for the same road……
What a plan. A few days before the rains set in full-time. The next excuse for delays to work on the road, will be the rains. Then the road will actually become impassable in some places. Come next year, the same ‘planning’ cycle will begin.
It appear some one “ATE” money that had initially been allocated for this road! We keep hearing that it is a priority road but we don’t see any real work going on! This is one of the reasons people of NW have chosen to move to UPND after dumping MMD. A wise government COULD HAVE PRIORITIZED NW over “bottom roads” and those constructed in “dambos”. NW can easily support a govt in power but they HAVE NO STRATEGY to use to WIN them OVER!! Very disappointing indeed!!
Kkkkkkk people of northwestern will now eat the road. They didn’t want to eat.