State needs $500m for roads
By NANCY MWAPEGOVERNMENT needs US$500 million to restore and maintain the backlog of all roads that have been in poor condition for five years.
Minister of Works and Supply Mike Mulongoti said the budget for the 2010 annual work plan is K1.294 trillion and K852.8 billion will come from local resources while K442 billion will be from external sources.
Mr Mulongoti said Government’s strategy is to complete all ongoing projects that were not finished in 2009 due to inadequate funds.
He said this yesterday during a Zambia Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) chief executive officers’ breakfast meeting.
He cited the rehabilitation of Zimba-Livingstone road, periodic maintenance of Ukwimi - Sonja road, upgrading of Luansobe - Mpongwe and rehabilitation of Chipata urban roads as well as the Lusaka urban roads,as projects earmarked for completion.
Other road projects include the upgrading of the Kasama - Luwingu road, tarring the Kasempa-Kabompo-Chavuma road and work on the Kasama-Mbala-Mpulungu road.
The Ndola-Kitwe-Chingola and the Nasanga farm block roads and the periodic maintenance of the Lusaka International Airport turnoff and Luangwa bridge are other works pending completion.
Mr Mulongoti said for the provinces, Government will spend K178 billion for Lusaka, K132 billion for Copperbelt, K94 for Central, K185 billion Northern, K104 billion Luapula, K92 billion Eastern, K306 billion Southern, K89 billion Western and K110 billion for North-Western provinces.
“The challenge faced in implementing the work plan is inadequate financing and the long tender procedures for donor- funded projects. We also don’t have sufficient contractors in Zambia to carry out works,” he said.
Mr Mulongoti said to broaden the revenue base, Government has put in place the public private partnership law to allow participation of the private sector.
He said Government is considering revising the fuel levy in view of reduced donor support for roads.
Speaking earlier, ZACCI vice-president Geoffrey Sakulanda said infrastructure is an important catalyst for economic development.
“Infrastructure supports growth in industry, trade and commerce, as well as improved social services,” he said.
Mr Sakulanda said there is need to improve feeder roads, construct ring roads in major cities like Lusaka to ease doing business and reduce the number of valuable hours lost in long road traffic queues.
He said it is important that Government prioritises transport, construction and communication to achieve the needed economic growth for Zambia to attain middle income status by 2030.
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