The Zambian Government has signed a US$23 million contract with a Japanese company aimed at improving and maintaining roads in Ndola and Kitwe districts.
This is contained in a statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka by third secretary for press at the Zambian embassy in Tokyo Japan Ireen Mulenga.
Ms. Mulenga has disclosed that the project which will be administered under the Japanese Grant Aid, will cover a total of 12.73 Kilometers and is expected to start by mid January 2010.
She noted that the project which has been awarded to Konoike Corporation of Japan is expected to be completed within 24 months.
Ms. Mulenga said in Ndola, the contract will cover Makoli Avenue, Livingstone Road, Vitanda Street, Kaunda Drive, Independence Way, Zambia Road, Matero Road, Lukasu Road and Chambeshi Road among others.
And in Kitwe the roads which will be worked on include Dr. Aggrey Avenue, Euclid, Zomba, Blantyre, Eshowe, Matuka Avenue, Kantanta Street, Natwange, and Miseshi Street.
Others are Kanongesha, Mutentemuko, Mulilakwenda, Lilongwe and Independence Service Lane.
The signing ceremony was attended by Zambia’s Ambassador to Japan Dr. Mbikusita Wamundila Lewanika, Local Government Permanent Secretary Timothy Hakuyu, Director of Housing and Infrastructure Development Peter Lubambo, Senior Engineer Urban Roads Richard Kangwa, Directors of Engineering Services for both Ndola and Kitwe City councils Gilbert Sendama and John Kaliminwa respectively.
ZANIS
Great news… the Japaneese are good at road infrastructure. Good move hope more business is done with the Japaneese
$23 million for 12.73km only. Damn these roads are expensive!
Long term…can anyone advise me if there is a way Zambians can be trained in building roads etc?? A training center established and equipment brought into the country…
is this LOAN or gratis
is this a LOAN or gratis?
12.73km? What kind of journalism is this. Just look at the list of roads, cant the author stop and think how long 12km is? It’s like Kabulonga to City centre, roughly.
Anyway, this is welcome news. I hope the roads will be reconstructed and tarred. But Zambia should not celebrate at getting grants or loans of such amounts. We can easily get such monies from our copper mines if we taxed them reasonably. We must aim to raise our own money. It’s a shame that a big delegation went to simply receive $23m. This is not a lot of money. There are so many roads in need of attention. Let’s make our own money from the mines.
Maybe is its127.3km!!! LT update us on the right figures!!!
Japanese Grant Aid
$23 million dollars! what are the full details of this loan? Can Zambians fail to come up with $23 million dollars? In a country with abundance and yet there is a lack of great mind and creativity to be self supporting is a curse and a shame.
Konoike Corporation? I have never heard of them. Most construction companies here in Japan are run by the “Yakuza” or crime syndicates like the Mafia in Italy. A very lucrative business. Such deals are usually done in connection with some bureaucrats in the govt., which means someone here is gonna get paid big time. If it were a direct Japanese govt. grant project, they would look at roads that are of a top priority. Kanyata Street? Good lord have mercy.