Lungu pledges more revenue for road projects, as $4.3M toll plaza launched
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has launched the Michael Chilufya Sata toll Plaza on the Ndola-Luanshya road with a pledge to ensure steady flow of revenue to maintain and construct more roads in the country. He said about US$ 4.3 million had been invested in the construction of the plaza and that more such infrastructure would be rolled out in strategic points throughout the country. The Head of State noted that the infrastructure was named after the late 5th Republican President and founder of the Patriotic Front (PF) Party Michael Chilufya Sata to preserve his legacy. “The late President Michael Sata walked and believed in the development of infrastructure. It is therefore only ideal to preserve his legacy through such works,” he said. President Lungu said the toll plaza which is the sixth in the country would generate enough funds for use in the development, construction and rehabilitation of roads in the country. He said the construction of toll plazas was part of Government’s plans to create a pool of funds for the safety and comfort of road users. He urged the Zambian population to not listen to baseless accusations from the enemies of development. The Government, he said, would use its own money to maintain the roads and also borrow additional resources in circumstances where need would arise. President Lungu explained that borrowing money was not wrong as long as resources were channelled towards investment and not consumption. He declared that he was not ashamed to admit that Government would borrow funds because every country sourced additional funds in a similar manner. The Head of State challenged those who were opposing Government’s development programmes to present alternative initiatives instead of insisting on malicious criticism. Mr Lungu stated that huge sums of money had gone into the project, further urging citizens to jealously preserve the infrastructure.