CHIEFTAINESS NKOMESHYA U-TURNS ON ROAD PROJECT
SENIOR Chieftainess Nkomenshya of the Soli people of Lusaka Province has rescinded her decision to stop a Chinese Investor from constructing a $240, 000 concrete road which connects Chalimbana and Chongwe central wards.
The Chinese investor Zhong Yang EcoAgriculture Industry Park which operates in Chalimbana ward in Chongwe, was constructing the road as part of its Social Corporate Responsibility. The road works were halted a fortnight ago despite the fact that the road was nearing completion.
The Chieftainess suspended the construction of the road about five weeks ago. She alleged that the Chinese Investor did not get permission from the Royal Establishment to construct the road on traditional land and did not provide safety measures for the pupils at a nearby school against the traffic which will be using the road.
The Chieftainess lifted the suspension during a meeting with stakeholders held at Matipula Primary School yesterday. This was after school headmaster, Mr. Denny Sinkamba pleaded with the Chieftainess to allow the Chinese
Investors complete constructing the 1.7 kilometre road which will serve as a direct link between the farming community and the Great East Road for easy transportation of farm produce.
The lifting of the suspension has cheered Chongwe District Commissioner Mr. Robster Mwanza who described the gesture as progressive. He told the Daily Nation in an interview that, the road once completed would help to ease the movement of farm produce to the market.
He was elated and joined Chongwe Ward Councillor Mr. Juvenelis Mulimbika in kneeling down during the same meeting to thank the traditional leader for rescinding her earlier decision.
Pupils at the school living along the road are also delighted and thankful to the Chinese investors, saying the road has provided them with a smooth passage to and fro school.
Meanwhile, to ensure the safety of the pupils against heavy trucks which will be using the road, the Chinese investors has accepted the request by the Chieftainess to construct a wall fence around Matipula Primary School. During the same meeting the Chieftainess expressed displeasure over the manner in which village headwomen, like their men counterparts, were selling land in their villages without being mindful of the future generations.
She bemoaned the habit of selling land to such an extent that the villages had no room for future development.
Zong Yang administrative manager, Fredrick Sashi told the Daily Nation in an interview that, the company decided to upgrade the road in order to help improve the mobility of vehicles and pedestrians in the farming community. He said that the company embarked on the project as a gift to the community where it operates from and where most of its workforce resides.
He assured the local government and traditional leadership that the company stood ready to lend a hand in developmental projects in the area.