The Road Development Agency – RDA has disclosed that the delays to complete the Kitwe – Chingola dual carriage way are as a result variations that took place after the initial scope such as the inclusion of toll plazas and bridges along the roads as well as cashflow challenges.
Works along the Kitwe – Chingola dual carriage way are currently standing at 90 percent completion rate and set for commissioning soon after the COVID -19 situation stabilizes. The Kitwe – Chingola contract which falls under the Ndola – Solwezi road project worth K2.1 billion is being funded in partnership with the National Pensions Scheme Authority – NAPSA.
RDA Corporate Communications Manager Masuzyo Ndhlovu told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an exclusive interview on April 6, 2020 that the Kitwe – Chingola road project is a stretch of about 46 Kilometers and only 19 kilometers is remaining before it is fully completed.
Ndhlovu said other factors include the outbreak of COVID -19 which has led to the suspension of works at the site, hence the contractor will only resume works after the situation stabilizes then later determine the date for commissioning the project.
“We hope to commence the Kitwe – Chingola dual carriage way soon after the COVID -19 situation normalizes and this project falls under the entire project of Ndola – Solwezi road but we are working on it in phases”, he added.
He further told ZBT that the repayments for the funding provided by Napsa for the road project will be made from proceeds of the the toll fees collected at the Wilson Mofya Chakulya toll plaza.
RDA had in 2013 awarded a K562 million contract to Sino Hydro Zambia for the construction of more than 45 kilometers of dual carriage way between Kitwe and Chingola on the Copperbelt province. Motorists have expressed concern that the little stretch remaining should be completed to make the whole stretch usable as further delays in commissioning the road are a worst of resources already pumped in.
The Kitwe – Chingola road is a busy and economically important road and has great potential in maximizing collections for government and its agency – RDA through the toll plaza that has been installed. The road has been subject to hectic highway traffic jams causing unnecessary demurrage as it’s a key route for truckers delivering cargo to Congo DR through Kasumbalesa border.
