The Government through the Road Development Agency (RDA) has signed two contracts for the upgrading of the D387 Road from T1 to Chikankata in Southern Province and the upgrading to bituminous standard of approximately 80 kilometres of the Samfya-Kasaba Road via Lubwe including 5 kilometres of Township Roads in Lubwe in Luapula Province.
The contracts were signed at the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development today by acting RDA Director and Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Jairos M’hango and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Managing Director Jacques Liao.
Speaking after the signing of the contracts, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Minister, Hon. Eng. Charles Lubasi Milupi said the move was a clear demonstration that the New Dawn Government of President Hakainde Hichilema was committed to fulfilling its promises of improving road infrastructure in all parts of the country.
“The Chikankata Road has been in a deplorable state for a very long time and it has taken the New Dawn Government to upgrade this very important road at a cost of K369,386,682.01.
“Additionally, the upgrading to bituminous standard of approximately 80 kilometres of Samfya-Kasaba Road via Lubwe (D096) has been overdue and today we have signed a contract to upgrade this road, including 5 kilometres of Township Roads in Lubwe at a contact sum K937,929,384.70,” he said.
“This is indeed walking the talk. The New Dawn Government has been working flat out even in the hardest of times when the country is faced with financial challenges to improve the core road network in Zambia,” Hon. Eng. Milupi added.
The event was also witnessed by Fisheries and Livestock Minister, Hon. Eng. Peter Kapala who hails from Lubwe and Chikankata Member of Parliament Hon. Jaqueline Sabao.
RDA Board Chairperson, Eng. Eugene Haazele urged the contractor to ensure that the environmental and social obligation were met by the Contractor when undertaking the project.
CCECC Managing Director Jacques Liao said his firm would ensure that quality road works were undertaken and locals were employed on both projects.
