The Minister of Local Government and Housing Minister Charles Banda has disowned his Permanent Secretary Ed Chomba over the statement the he made on demolition the newly constructed Alick Nkhata Bridge.
Yesterday Bishop Choma said that his Ministry had ordered the demolition of the newly constructed Alick Nkhata flyover bridge in Lusaka it is a death trap and lacks the basic minimum standards of a bridge.
Telling ZNBC News, Bishop Chomba wondered which Zambian engineers approved such a structure and called for seriousness in the engineering sector, adding that the ministry had now resolved that the flyover bridge must be demolished.
However, speaking to the media today Dr. Banda said that the statement made by Bishop Chomba was not a Ministerial statement or Government Position on the bridge, and that his Ministry has not found any reason why the Bridge should be demolished.
The Minister further said that the construction of the bridge was actioned and approved by the Road Development Agency(RDA), and not by his Ministry. The Minister further said that RDA has competent engineers who did the designs and certification, stressing that up to this point there has been no any report to suggest that the bridge had cracks.
The Minister further said that the statement made by his Permanent Secretary was his personal opinion, adding that it cannot be taken as a Government or Ministry Position.
Dr. Banda issued an apology on behalf of his Ministry to the President, RDA and the nation for a misleading statement by his Permanent Secretary.
The Minister concluded his statement by saying that, this morning, he had sent engineers to relook at the bridge and they have assured him that the bridge is sound.
They are looking for cracks…..
Who told this minister that only cracks can make a bridge dangerous. ?
If it has no cracks , why is the chief engineer saying it is only for slow moving cars ?????
When the time has come God just confuses people. How else can you explain this PF circus? Mr HH please start packing your bags destination is Statehouse. Viva HH & UPND
When the time has come God just confuses people. How else can you explain this PF circus? Mr HH please start packing your bags destination is Statehouse. Viva HH & UPND..
I really do not like this Charles Banda.
Is he not the one that sold some of the black Lechwes?
And this is the same chap that was against demolishing houses built on Munali Secondary School land.
For some unknown reason, he always sides with corrupt activities. Just like his boss!
He looks dodgy, and he sounds dodgy. Again, Just like his boss!
ine am just waiting for Bowman Lusambo to come on the scene
So RDA and this Ministry are working at cross purposes?
This is a stupid minister and should be fired. The PS is right, that Bridge is a death trap and should be demolished. These are the same corrupt people who ate the money and do not want to take responsibility. It’s pathetic and should reverse his statements. Credit to Ed Chomba than this Foolish Minister.
How did cheese aka Dubai miss such a humongous structural defect?
Truth is lacking in the Christian Zambia; remember Mwanawasa jogging in London, Sata on diplomatic trips to Tel Aviv and Bangalore? Today the Christian nation is growing marijuana. Let Engineers assess it and tell us not politicians and clergymen.
The problem is that Chomba wants to hammer 100km/h on that bridge.
If designers recommend 35km/h or 30 why would one want 130km/h and not achieve a death trap?
My shout out to the Engineers who did that a piece, you are now pulling the ka smile muscle in my face for the 1st time ever.
I haven’t seen the bridge personally. I will be jetting back home soonest and to have a look and feel @20km/h then 30Km/h and finaly 60Km/h.
These people are not fit for purpose, I seriously dont believe what am reading plus why is he apologizing to the President? Is it his money wasted on this contraption? This is what happens when you just handpick morons from the street as ministers and govt officials. This govt seriously needs to go, I can not see them steering anything to recovery. No way!!
Its fake news!!!
this point there has been no any report to suggest that the bridge had cracks.
The above statement is a shocker to say the least. Not having cracks is not a quality assurance one can depend on to say the bridge is safe. What is the weight distribution on this bridge, what materials and their strength thereof, what is the foundation this bridge built on and what is the optimal weight it can bear, not the speed issue being referred to by our learned authority.
Leadership in these ministries has totally collapsed most of the ministries little no coordination worse enough when someone mess up something instead of calling each other he/she will darsh to the media and embarrassed the whole nation thinking he will be praised yet that’s the worsed type of leadership.my humble appeal to these people is to learn to have leadership workshop in the ministries so that we can have a good type of leaders who knows what he/she is doing.
The minister should be driven over that bridge at just 30 km/h to appreciate how horrible that structure is!
Just throw him under that bridge please.
Bolingo, tell us, what is wrong with the bridge? Is it below the SWL (safe working load) or under design or poor material aggregates, what simply is wrong with the bridge? The project consultants and supervisors need to shade light. In any case who told Dr. Chomba that the bridge need to be demolished?
Right, Minister go drive over it…dont just send engineers. I have driven over it, it is horrible to have such structure at this time and age.
So its OK to have a rollercoaster of a bridge.
It’s a safe bridge after all that?
Why don’t they sort these issues internally instead of looking foolish in public?
The man is apologising to the president. What calibre of ministers do we have. This is not A one party state!
The problem is not structural but the geometrical design, both the vertical and horizontal curves are sub standard.it fails on the level of service, no riding comfort, reaction time in case of any accident is zero.
The problem is speed.
Let designers stipulate the sort of speed at that portion. E.g 15km/h.
Safety of the vechicle and not structural safety is the concern, come on.
Poor reporting. At least show us a picture of the bridge, preferably from an angle that would support demolition.
I am not sure you can judge a bridge by looks.
There are many factors to consider when building bridges, such as considering resonance frequencies (e.g. the Tacoma bridge).
That matters little. A picture needs to accompany this story
Sunday Chanda , Sunday Chanda ……was HH the first one to drive across that bridge to falsely decide it is dangerous ????
Where is Zambian citizen ?????
We need clarification badala , we are getting confused. ?
The bridge you were sontaring when it opened is only for slow cars ???
What is lungu saying ?
Sunday Chanda, please spare us this time. We know that it is HH causing confusion on our Ministries. Why can’t HH make sure the PS and the Minister are on the same page? This is terrible and embarrassing.
This is the usele—ss minister in this govt.He finished selling animals in lwangwa valley.He can’t be a minister.Bishop Chomba is right that bridge should be demolished.I passed through it and looks pathetic.You can’t see the car on the other side.This man is dull.He even sold lachewes in Bangweulu waterlands.Ba Lungu get rid of this man.He is also gainst the demolition of illigal stractures built at munali.He also demolished houses for poor people.In in this country we have usele—sss ministers.What a minister!
Wako ni wako at work…..
hahahaha. Circus as usual in the PF sinking boat but that’s what happens when the clueless overload themselves on the boat but realize later on none of them know how to steer the boat. Ba PF have some direction and purpose please and also have yourselves surgically implanted with some vision.
The PS is a ministry’s chief servant, technically qualified and above him are only political appointees who may not even be technically qualified to lead those ministries. This is a case of a politician being a politician over the safety of people.
Tell me what technical qualification Chomba has, except being a Bishop…… maybe at Ministry of Religious and guidance
Where is Sydney Matamwandi?
Oh..you mean Sido,the small something syndrome guy…lol
Mukula Bridge drive at your own risk. Mappets.
This country is a Joke and full of clowns. Even ‘Humpty Dumpty’ he can run it better.
Africa is full of blind and corrupt leaders.
Every week a minister does something stupid!
Am sure someone somewhere will blame HH,ati he is the one conniving with Bishop Chomba in order to discredit the hard working government of the humble one!
This is a circus, wat kind of a Government is this no coordination at all everyone is able to issue unverified information kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk when God confuses people.
Kikiki! I knew it – its the wataa guy at it again with “zamselufu” own wild ideas. Demolish for what reason. Engineers were there to make sure that its safe and why say its not safe today. Oh he thinks bridges are only built where there is wataaa and he did not understand that that bridge is also a bridge. Kikiki!!!
Again uncoordinated PamaFi at it – yaba!!!
Disaster!!!!
It’s HH who built the bridge, demolish it.
Let Zambian Engineers get working.
I laud them for this gesture.
Nanga ni bridge ya nyoko?
Sha!
Chiputa bati.
The colonial bridge designed n built in the early 60s to carry 7 ton trucks of that era still stands and is now carrying 60 ton trucks of this modern era because the bridge designed n built five years ago was washed away.
That alone speaks huge volumes of today’s engineers n government.
The colonial bridge designed n built in the early 60s to carry 7 ton trucks of that era still stands and is now carrying 60 ton trucks of this modern era because the bridge designed n built five years ago was washed away in Chinsali
That alone speaks huge volumes of today’s engineers n government.
Despite knowing that voting in failures due to popularism etc etc and doing so several times over highlight how easily fooled Zambians are. Result of what was voted in. Enjoy it.
But guys you know that this minister Charles Banda is a fully blown PF cadre, a pioneering PF cadre actually from the days of sata. Just look at the way he is twisting the story to look like the problem is cracks on the bridge knowing fully well there are no cracks. He is trying to divert attention from the true story which is that the bridge is too steep. This was confirmed by the Project Engineer who said that the bridge is not suitable for fast driving.
Typical of PF the original design must have had gentle slopes which were probably shortened to cut corners and provide an opportunity for long hand.
Let’s support PS Eddie Chomba otherwise we are accepting a death trap.
This is what you get when you appoint party cadres and friends as permanent secretaries. Under KK permanent secretaries were seasoned civil servants. When the MMD came into power FTJ sacked all permanent secretaries and replaced them with party cadres and friends, which has continued with successive presidents. A seasoned PS would have sat down with his minister, explained the problem, and the minister, not the PS, would have come up with the official statement but now the minister is explaining that, that is not GRZ’s position but was Chomba’s position personal?
Just look at that “Chalesi” Banda!
This P.F Goon would not look out of place, managing a small kantemba outside Simoson Building.
Of course he will say everything is ok, coz his pockets are heavy from creaming off cash meant for that “Mukula Bridge’, & erecting a substandard structure.
Same as KK International airport. If one looks at the original drawings /architectural impressions, one would shudder in disbelief, when compared to the substandard structures now known as K.K.I.A. Never heard Zedians complain about the KK.I.A scam.
IN ANY FUNCTIONING STATE SUCH ARE SCANDALS THAT WOULD MAKE HEADS ROLL, BUT AIKONA IN J0N4, & KA!ZAR’S FAILED SH!TH0LE REPUBLIC, ITS BUSINESS AS USUAL, WHILST BOASTING OF “UNPRECEDENTED DEVELOPMENT”.
Just look at that “Chalesi” Band@!
This P.F Go0n would not look out of place, managing a small kantemba outside Sim0son Building.
Of course he will say everything is 0k, coz his pockets are heavy from creaming off cash meant for that “Mukul@ Bridge’, & erecting a substandard structure.
Same as KK Internati0nal 4irp0rt. If one looks at the original drawings /architectural impressions, one would shudder in disbelief, when compared to the substandard structures now known as K.K.I.A. Never heard Zedians complain about the KK.I.A scam.
IN ANY FUNCTI0NING STATE SUCH ARE SCANDALS THAT WOULD MAKE HEADS R0LL, BUT AIK0NA IN J0N4, & KA!ZAR’S FAILED SH!TH0LE REPUBL!C, ITS BUSINESS AS USUAL, WHILST B0ASTING 0F “UNPRECEDENTED DEVEL0PMENT”.
even though it was 3 meters wide, so long it does not have cracks, ili che.
This is frightening, how could a structural survey of such a sensitive project last only hours, look at this: “this morning, he had sent engineers to relook at the bridge and they have assured him that the bridge is sound.“
Besides, a slow moving car exerts much dead weight on the structure than a fast moving one, so what is this Mukula fool talking about? Is this the kind of engineers UNZA is now cooking out! Maybe Mukula should be assigned as the chief engineer for the new presidential jet, there his structural ideas can be put to good use!
very disappointing contradicting statements from the Minister and from the PS can these two gents sit down and iron out the differences,this shows how bad the house is divided and above all they are discussing this issue on the media.Why only slow moving vehicles will be given passage on this bridge,can some plz come out open and bring clarity on this mess.
Chomba the man with fake qualifications is like Bowman who has no qualifications. They just yap, they are really media happy. Very sad to call these two as leaders,
Proper circus that is characteristic of PF government, the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing. Chomba is not an engineer, some one must have leaked to him weaknesses in structure that he could not expound intelligibly. Aspects of the structure are questionable. Can some one with engineering authority tell the truth about this bridge? Banda’s defence was shallow – pure politicking without substance except to deny all and give the impression all is well when not!
Mmmmmmmmm am very much delighted and so happy with the number of structural engineers commenting on this post y dont you engineers go to kariba dam and implement the solutions for that weak wall and dilapidated turbines instead of wasting your time criticizing each other over a 50m length bridge.
i see mr chomba being correct he was pointing out errors on the structure and concluded by calling it a death trap. it means as usual some money was pocketed by some corrupt clan of pf. dare to charge him more will come out.
As a motorist who actually drove over that bridge, I support the PS’ position. Whether we like it or not, whether the bridge was commissioned by the President or not, the fact remains that it is a death trap. When life is lost at that bridge, that is when we will realize that the PS was right. But do we have to wait for life to be lost for us to realize that we need to bring down that death trap of a bridge?
To even think about defending such a horrid looking structure says a lot about the minister’s quality of the man and his lacking quality standards in structural development. Viva Mr PS and as the technical head of the ministry, please do your job and get rid of that dangerous bridge. Minister ahutup and go lick your boss’s ass.