Nakonde-Chinsali road rehab to start
By BUUMBA CHIMBULU in Nakonde REHABILITATION works of the 21km Nakonde-Chinsali road are expected to start within the first quarter of this year at cost of US$192 million.
Over a year ago, government signed an agreement worth US$192 million with the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the financing of the rehabilitation of works of the road which links Zambia to Tanzania.
According to Minister of Finance, Felix Mutati, the AfBD had approved the US$192 million loan needed to fund the rehabilitation works which was expected to improve road transport infrastructure and services once concluded.
Mr. Mutati explained that the project was also expected to reduce transport costs between northern Zambia and southern Tanzania.
“There is need to address a number of issues including decongesting the road from Nakonde through to Chinsali to accelerate the movement of traffic as a mechanism for domestic resource mobilisation.
“We had approached AfDB over a year ago to seek funding for the project, this facility has been approved, the loan has been signed US$192 million and the Road Development Agency, has done the processes to the extent that we have shortlisted three contractors whose names have been sent to AfDB for evaluation and final selection,” he said.
He said the RDA had conducted all the necessary processes and that it had shortlisted three contractors whose names had been sent to AfDB for final selection.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mutati announced that Government would clear the balance of about K3million by February this year to complete the water project to improve the quality of water in the area.
This follows a request from Chieftainess Waitwika of the Namwanga people of Muchinga Province who called on the government to accelerate the rehabilitation of water and sanitation facilities in the district.