The expansion of the road network and construction of additional fly over bridges or traffic circles has led to decongestion of traffic on many key transit routes in Lusaka which has been appreciated by many.
But one exception had been the Alick Nkhata road bridge. This bridge is on record to have been referred to as a “death trap” by the government’s own Local Government Permanent Secretary – Ed Chomba who was almost fired to calling the bluff. A majority of road users had earlier expressed concern which led to the PS visit then.
And after many pleas from the general public, the Public Service Pension Fund – PSPF who are the contractors of the adjacent mixed use complex have decided to remodel and reconstruct the controversial bridge. This was after initially denying and defending the structure as being fit and proper.
But the Engineering Institution of Zambia – EIZ which acted as the whistle blower using their professional standing have expressed concern that the remodeling and reconstruction has not been done in consultation with relevant and key stakeholders.
In an exclusive interview with Zambian Business Times – ZBT, new EIZ President Abel Ng’andu said that the reconstruction of the Alick Nkhata bridge has nothing to do with EIZ and that the institute is not aware of what is currently taking place at the bridge.
Ng’andu said that “the geometrical design of the bridge is not correct and it is for this reason that we have written letters to meet up with the contractors at the bridge on 30 December 2020 in order for us to let them know our position concerning the bridge.”
He added that there is no way that such a decision of reconstruction the bridge should be made without engaging relevant authorities of the decision. The EIZ President stressed that they will only disclose their position concerning the bridge next week Monday after their meeting.
The EIZ had also raised alarm on the ZNBS building on Cairo road which also attracted a rebuttal from the contractor and consulting engineers on the project. The concern was that the structure has developed cracks in the columns which needed urgent attention.
Members of the public have raised concern that some of the contractors and consulting engineers seem to be “too connected” to an extent that they are basically using such projects to syphon money from the treasury.
The government has been urged to ensure that the government officers that issued these tenders, the construction companies responsible for these two projects and the approving engineers that certified these works are made accountable.
Proper investigations should be initiated to unearth why some top government officials have been defending clearly “wrong things” when even members of the public have been calling for corrective action.
