LUMUMBA ROAD IS DEATH TRAP

MOTORISTS have called on the Road Development Agency (RDA) to urgently close and rehabilitate Lusaka’s dilapidated Lumumba Road which they have described as a ‘‘death trap.’’

They have implored RDA to employ contractors who would do lasting repairs to save taxpayers money.

This came to light when the Daily Nation crew took a spot check on the road which also services the heavy and light industrial areas.

Mr Moffat Chansa, a Matero resident who reguarly uses Lumumba Road bemoaned the deplorable state saying it was sad that despite paying hefty road taxes, the road is in a deplorable state.

Mr Chansa said that the road had deteriorated to such a state that it was like driving through bathtubs.

Mr Chansa alleged that some RDA officials were conspiring with contractors to steal from government coffers by paying contractors who carry out shoddy works on the road.

He noted that there were frequent patch-ups on these roads, but they do not last at all.

He said motorists lose valuable time and money which impacts on their efficiency and ultimately their competitiveness within the logistics sector.

To make matters worse, he said, motorists pay hefty fees in terms of road taxes, but many people in authority choose to turn a blind eye to them.

He however appealed to the government to urgently rehabilitate the road due to its economic importance saying there was need to have the road closed and worked on.