The Road Development Agency (RDA) has disclosed that K88 billion is required to rehabilitate the Maamba-Batooka which is in a deplorable state.
RDA Head of Public Relations Loyce Saili told ZANIS in a telephone interview that the entire road would not be rehabilitated because there was no allocation for it road in this year’s budget.
“As RDA we have limited funds and there is no allocation for Maamba-Batooka road in the budget for this year,†Ms Saili said.
She said the agency would only repair the mostly damaged parts of the road using the three billion Kwacha that has been set for emergency in this year’s budget.
“We hope that we will be able to do some work on the Maamba-Batooka from the three billion meant for emergencies,†Ms Saili noted.
Last week Sinazongwe District Commissioner (DC) warned motorists coming to the district for the first time to travel during the day because the road is in a deplorable state.
Mr. Apuleni said the Maamba-Batooka road has no signs and heavy rains have washed away part of the road and advised all motorists to drive slowly and those coming for first time at night should sleep in Batooka or Choma.
Atruck carrying mealie meal to Maamba collapsed in a culvert that was washed away by heavy rains last week.
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Road and paving contractor did the rehabilitation work on the Maamba-Batooka road last year said the RDA Head of Public Relations.
The DC pointed out that the contractor did a shoddy job on the Maamba-Batooka road as a result of culverts that are collapsing
Mr. Apuleni said that he has been vindicated because he told them last year that the work they did was poor.
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By Tovin Ngombe
The floods that has affected the lower Zambezi and many parts of Zambaia should be declared a national dasaster to allow for more international funding to help the victims as well repair the damaged infra structure.
That road requires a complete overhaul. It is aged; since the 1970’s! It is a very important road to the country’s economy, linking Zambia’s coal mining town. Money should not be an issue here. It is just simple economics; if one spends K88bn now and at the end of it all you realise K200bn, is it not worth an (capital) investment?
It can be done and without any questions, I believe !!!
Brussels – Belgium
The problem, John, is that our political leaders dont see economic sense. A 30 kilometre drive out of Lusaka in any direction leads you to witness truly unbelievable standards of human existence. The RDA is brainlessly discussing a multimillion dollar ‘ring road’ in Lusaka. To link kanyama, Chibolya, chawama, etc. Go see the structures and garbage lying all over the place. We should be proud of our nation!