• PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu (centre, in white helmet) after launching the Solwezi-Chingola Road works at St Dorothy in Solwezi yesterday. Picture by SALIM HENRY/STATE HOUSE

By MOFFAT CHAZINGWA –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has launched the much anticipated rehabilitation works for the 168-kilometre Chingola-Solwezi Road at a cost of K1 billion with a warning to the contractor against undertaking shoddy works.
The launch of the road works follows the successful awarding of contracts for full rehabilitation of the Chingola-Solwezi Road to ChinaGeo and Buildcon Investment by Government through the Road Development Agency (RDA).
ChinaGeo has been engaged to do lot one and three, while Buildcon was allocated lot two of the Chingola-Solwezi Road rehabilitation project.
President Lungu said Government was spending colossal sums of money on the project and as such, there was need to ensure that the new road stood the test of time.
He said at the ground breaking ceremony held at St Dorothy in Chief Kalilele along Chingola-Solwezi Road that he expected the quality of the works to be of international standards.
This is because the road provides a vital link to mining houses and other economic activities in North-Western Province.
“We will not accept premature failure or substandard works on this project. The Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications, and the Road Development Agency are therefore urged to ensure that the contractors deliver a quality road through effective supervision,” he said.
He emphasised the need for the engaged contractors to ensure 20 per cent of the project was allocated to local contractors in line with Government’s policy of empowering Zambians.
Mr Lungu said the improvement of the Chingola-Solwezi Road had immense benefits not only to the Copperbelt and North-Western provinces but the country as whole.
The rehabilitation of the Chingola-Solwezi Road will provide an efficient transportation system to support copper mining and other economic activities between the Copperbelt and North-Western provinces.
The Head of State who reiterated his resolve to take development to all parts of the country disclosed that Government had intentions of constructing a dual carriageway between Chingola and Mutanda in North-Western province to cater for the forecasted increase in traffic on the stretch.
“Government is thus looking into alternative financing and implementation models, to ensure that this project is undertaken expeditiously. The general public and citizenry will be informed of these developments as they unfold,” he said.
Mr Lungu was proud that Government had continued to record success in the delivery of infrastructure projects in line with the commitments made to the people.
He cited the commencement of major projects such as the Itezhi Tezhi Road project in Central Province and the Monze-Niko Road in Southern Province as well as the completion of the Michael Chilufya Sata Bridge at Chiawa in Lusaka as evidence of Government’s commitment to develop the nation.
“The implementation of all these projects is a clear testimony of Government’s commitment to improve infrastructure and ultimately the social and economic development of the country.
“Some people will tell you we have failed. We have not failed. We have just started and not failed,” he said.
North-Western Minister Dawson Kafwaya said the launch of the rehabilitation works was a dream come true for the people of North-Western.
“The poor state of the Chingola-Solwezi Road threatened to close down the economic activities taking place in the province,” Mr Kafwaya said.
Lands Minister Christabel Ngimbu who is Zambezi West Member of Parliament (MP) said the pioneering of the rehabilitation of the Chingola-Solwezi Road by President Lungu was clear demonstration of the Head of State’s commitment to develop North-Western province.
Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Deputy Minister Mutaba Mwali said the new road had been carefully designed to accommodate heavy traffic particularly trucks ferrying copper to and from the mines.
The ground breaking ceremony was attended by among other people a number of traditional leaders who included host senior Chief Kalilele, senior Chief Mujimanzovu also of Solwezi, Chief Ntembo and Kanyanta, both of Mwinilungu.
Other dignitaries included Copperbelt Minister Mwenya Musenge, Deputy Minister at State House Mulenga Sata among many others.