By MAIMBO MWEEMBA
Housing and Infrastructure Development Permanent Secretary Danny Mfune says Government is mobilizing resources to ensure the implementation of critical Road projects on time.
Mr Mfune says government is aware that most road projects have derailed due to the constraint of resources.
Mr Mfune said that resources in many countries are being channeled to the fight against Covid-19.
Mr Mfune said this when Chasefu Council Secretary Rafael Phiri briefed him on the poor state of the road from Chasefu to Chama.
And Mr Phiri appealed to the ministry of housing and infrastructure development to speed up the grading of the road.
He said the road is critical as it is a link between Zambia and the gateway to East Africa through Nakonde.
“Projects such as the upgrading of Lundazi-Chasefu road via Chama to Isoka to all-weather gravel has taken longer than necessary as a result of insufficient resources, also the 56 kilometer road was initially meant to be upgraded to bituminous standard but has been re-scoped to an all-weather gravel at the cost of 132 million kwacha, Government attaches importance to the road because it is a link between Eastern and Muchinga provinces,” he said.
Mr Mfune said currently the 40 kilometers stretch of the road from Lundazi to Chasefu has been graded with 16 kilometers from Chasefu to Chama remaining.
Mr Mfune said this when Chasefu Council Secretary Rafael Phiri briefed him on the poor state of the road from Chasefu to Chama.
He said government attaches importance to the road because it is a link between Eastern and Muchinga provinces.
Speaking when he visited the construction sites, Mr Mfune said the two bridges must be completed on time to enhance easy movement of goods and services in Eastern Province.
“I want to direct the contractor working on the Lundazi and Msuzi bridges to speed up the process, the contractor Shachitari must be working double shifts to deliver the two bridges within schedule for the bridges are being constructed at the cost of 97 million Kwacha and works started in May this year after the collapse of the structures in 2020 due to heavy rains,” he said.
And Shachitari contract Manager Musenge Musenge said he will finish the works on time, adding all the materials have already been delivered to the site.
