IT is indisputable that better roads are a catalyst to social and economic growth of the country, that is why the Government has placed them top on the development agenda through various projects.
The Road Development Agency in 2014 implemented the acceleration of the national roads construction programme, also known as Link Zambia 8000, the Lusaka 400 and the Pave Zambia 2,000 and upgrading of selected township roads across the country.
Under the Link Zambia 8000, the project aims at promoting the growth of local and contracting industry, contributing to reduction of road user’s costs and transit times across Zambia, and the creation of the economic poles and wealth in outlying areas.
Better roads promote intra and international trade because goods and services are transported safely and on time. A good road network reduces the cost of doing business due to effectiveness and efficiency.
The safety of people and goods and services are secured because of a road network. Good roads are also a prerequisite to the provision of primary health care because patients, medical supplies and drugs move on time.
The referral system is enhanced due to good road network. It is however gratifying to note that President Edgar Lungu’s administration has continued to invest in the road sector much to the realisation of late President Michael Sata’s vision.
The launch of the Solwezi-Chingola Road by Mr Lungu could not have come at a better time than now because of the continued growth of economic development in the region.
It is a known fact that the poor state of the Chingola-Solwezi Road threatened the economic activities of the province. Many transporters shunned the area owing to the state of the road, a situation that saw the travelling public endure long hours to connect to other areas.
President Lungu said the improvement of the road had immense benefits not only to the Copperbelt and North-Western Provinces but the country as a whole.
“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.
The rehabilitation of the township roads in Kasempa would not only add beauty to the district but also contribute to the social and economic growth of the region, and the country at large.
But there is need to ensure that these contractors do a good job as government is spending colossal sums of money and people expect good quality works to be done on the roads.
Contractors must ensure that these roads have long durability owing to the number of trucks, both normal and abnormal, that use these roads every day.
The Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication together with the Road Development Agency should ensure that they monitor the works of these contractors so that the country can have good, durable roads.
The launch of the much anticipated road works on the Chingola-Solwezi Road comes after commencement of the Itezhi Tezhi project in Central Province and Monze-Niko Road in Southern Province as well as completion of the Michael Chilufya Sata Bridge at Chiawa in Lusaka.
This will undoubtedly help in linking the country and thereby help improve infrastructure development and social and economic.
With the launch of the road works, there promises to be an economic boast for the area as North-Western Province has now been linked with other economic activities having suffered for some time owing to the bad roads. OPINION