Bad roads hinder growth, cry Sioma residents

From CHIKUMBI KATEBE in Sioma

SIOMA residents in Western Province have called on Government to work on the Kazungula-Sesheke Road to open up the district for international tourists.

Some residents told the Daily Nation that the bad state of the roads linking Sioma to the gateway into economic tourism was still closed.

Ms Glender Mwanalui, a house keeper at one of the lodges in the area, said as a remote location, improved access roads would open up the area for activities such as river tours and fishing particularly for international tourists.

She said a few missionaries and investors who have used the new Mongu-Senanga road have appreciated the scenery but that it has not been easy to drive through to Southern Province owing to the bad road.

She said that this has discouraged them and many others who could not recommend the area to other tourists.

And Ms. Mwanalui has complained of poor mobile phone network in the area which affected marketing strategies for the hospitality industry.

"These days every industry is selling online, whether farmers, mechanics, even houses for rent or sale, and this can help Sioma sell its sites and locations as well as improve communication with target population, the tourists," she said.

Ms. Mwanalui said it was very difficult for lodge owners to be going to Lusaka to build an advertising platform to sale Sioma when it could easily be located online.

And Sioma District Commissioner Maurice Litula has hailed Government for the plan to erect five communication towers to help improve communication in the area.

Mr Litula also disclosed that Country Lodge proprietor has expressed interest in setting up a service station along the SiomaMongu road next to the Sioma Bridge to help bring fuel closer to the people.

"The nearest fuel supplies are in Namibia or else we have to go all the way to Senanga which is about 100 kilometers, hence it is very expensive,” he said.

Sioma is home to one of the largest national parks in the country, the Sioma Ngweze National Park and the local Ngonya water falls.