Government has assured traditional leaders in Muchinga Province that work on the Mpika -Serenje Road will soon commence.
Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary, Tuesday Bwalya, says the upgrades on the road will commence once procurement procedures are completed.
ZANIS reports that Dr Bwalya made the assurance when he paid a courtesy call on Chief Mpumba of the Bisa people of Lavushimanda District yesterday.
The Provincial Permanent Secretary stated that the World Bank supported project will soon see residents in the area move on the road freely.
He also indicated that plans to upgrade the Chinsali -Mpika Road have reached an advanced stage.
Dr Bwalya noted that once the works on the stretch between Chinsali -Serenje along the Great- North Road have been worked on, it will improve transport and trade connectivity between Zambia and Tanzania.
And Dr Bwalya also informed the traditional leader that the Cash for Work programme which is now being implemented in all the districts will see a lot of people benefit.
“We have other programmes like Social Cash Transfer, Farmer Input Support Programme, and the improved Cash for Work, where a lot of people even in your chiefdom will benefit from,” he said.
He further appealed to the chief to continue working with the government of the day for more development to be attained.
“Please work with my office and the government for more development,” he said.
Meanwhile, Road Development Agency (RDA) Regional Manager, Peter Sinkonde, said the Chinsali – Mpika through to Serenje Road Project, will have two contractors.
He added that so far community members that have been affected along the Chinsali – Mpika to Serenje have been identified, adding that they will soon be compensated.
“Works on this road will soon resume and people will soon see a change,” he said.
And Chief Mpumba, who spoke through his Representative, Leonard Bowa, thanked the government for the many developmental projects being undertaken in his chiefdom.
Chief Mpumba further appealed to the government for transport to help him monitor projects taking place in his chiefdom.
He said the government has constructed a lot of Schools, Healthy posts among other infrastructure in his chiefdom which is a good move.
“With all these projects, there is a need for monitoring to check on the quality of work and if the contractors are working according to the time frame,” he said.
The traditional leader also called on the local authority to rehabilitate the Mununga lay -by saying the place is not pleasing.
“There is a lot of mud at that lay-by and trucks get stuck, if the local authority can work on it as soon as possible, it will be appreciated,” he said.
The Muchinga Provincial Permanent Secretary has embarked on a familiarisation tour of various chiefdoms in the province to engage traditional leaders on numerous projects being implemented by the government.
