•These road works are part of the Pave Zambia 2000 Road project that Government has embarked on.

By PRISCILLA SIMUKOKO –

JUST a word that President Edgar Lungu will be in North Western Province to commission road works was enough to rekindle their hopes.
Four districts including Solwezi, Kasempa, Chavuma and Zambezi hosted the President during his three-day working visit.
The mission of the head of State was to commission works on township roads and the Solwezi-Chingola Road.
Being expectant of a good road network for a long time, people trooped to the airport to welcome President Lungu while others went to St Dorothy, the venue for the commissioning of works for the Chingola-Solwezi Road.
This was a fulfilment of President Lungu’s promise to the people during his four-day visit two weeks earlier.
The visit in itself was historical.
Senior chief Kalilele of the Lamba speaking people of Solwezi described President Lungu’s visit as a “sign of commitment and love for the people of North-Western Province, we have never seen a sitting President in the history of Zambia staying this long in the area, I am humbled by this gesture and we receive him with both hands.”
The return of the head of State to the region was a dream come true as it signified the start of the construction on the township roads and the infamous Solwezi-Chingola Road.
Senior Chief Kalilele whose chiefdom hosted the Solwezi Chingola road commissioning said he was happy with the leadership of President Lungu as he had shown interest in developing the province.
The attachment that people have to the road is exceptional, “it is the only link we have to the rest of the country, it carries thousands of tonnes of copper, gold and agricultural produce but its poor state has been our pain,” explains Moses Chifita aged 89, a senior citizen in the area.
Chifita despite his old age was among a magnitude of people to witness the groundbreaking ceremony for the Solwezi-Chingola Road by President Lungu.
The visit has energised the people in the region who felt left out on the benefits of the national cake for long time.
The entire province since independence has no tarred township roads.
To a great extent this scenario justifies their belief, people do not see or feel meaning development that is taking place in the region simply because they cannot access health facilities, schools or markets for their produce easily and cheaply due to poor state or nonexistence of roads
“It’s a fact that roads are important links that are associated with development in any community once we have these roads done here I tell you we will live to remember President Lungu because this is what the people wanted,” said Ison Likomeno, chairperson for freedom fighters district association.
President Lungu assured people in the province that he will work for everyone regardless of tribe or region.
“I am your President whether you voted for me or not, you are all entitled to share the national cake and I will do just that we are one nation and no one tribe is superior than the other,” President Lungu said.
Former Chavuma Member of Parliament Kakoma Chitanga said President Lungu has demonstrated the true meaning of  the One Zambia One Nation motto through the commissioning of road works.
“What I have witnessed means a lot to the people here. He has been in office for a few months and has thought of this province first, we are grateful,” Mr Chitanga said.
The President commissioned the construction of the 168 kilometres Solwezi-Chingola at a total cost of over K1 billion which is under the Link Zambia 8000 road project.
And the township roads to be upgraded to bituminous standards are 9.5 kilometres road in Chavuma which will cost K128 Million, 9.2 kilometres in Kasempa that will cost K115.4 million and 9.6 kilometres in Zambezi District will be done at a cost of K129.4 million while Solwezi has 30.5 kilometres of roads to be constructed at a cost of K222 million.
These road works are part of the Pave Zambia 2000 Road project that Government has embarked on.
In Kasempa where mining prospects are under way residents described the commissioning of road works as a milestone in uplifting the living standards of the people in the province.
A marketer at Kasempa main market Monica Kambita added “the President has given us a new hope of more developmental projects in the region; he has shown that he cares for us and we will work with him to change the face of the province.”
Provincial Minister Dawson Kafwaya expressed gratitude for the commissioning of road works in the province and described it as memorable.
Mr Kafwaya stated that the new roads will open up the province for investment in other economic sectors.
“The road network facilitates economic activities and the poor state of the roads slowed down these activities,” Mr Kafwaya said.
Chief Mumena of Kaonde speaking people who spoke on behalf of nine other chiefs during a meeting with President Lungu said once the roads are done, “your excellence you will put smiles on the faces of the people.”
For sure all hope was lost but the start of works on the Solwezi-Chingola Road and township roads has brought happiness to the people of the province.