Gold-rich Mumbwa District of Central province continues […]

Gold-rich Mumbwa District of Central province continues to face significant development setbacks due to deteriorating road infrastructure, with local authorities warning that the poor state of the area’s road network is slowing economic growth, even as the district garners attention for its gold discoveries.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times (ZBT), Mumbwa Council Chairperson Charlie Masumo highlighted that, while certain parts of the constituency are experiencing improvements, many critical roads remain in disrepair, hampering transport, connectivity, and local commerce.

 Among the most urgent concerns is the Nambala-Naruhi Road, which has been flagged as requiring immediate intervention. Masumo disclosed that the Road Development Agency (RDA) has been engaged to support rehabilitation efforts as part of a broader phased government project.

According to Masumo, interim works are already underway to prevent the road from becoming completely impassable, even as stakeholders await government approval for a major contract to upgrade the Landless Corner-Mumbwa-Kasempa route.

“Once approved, this project should bring significant improvements to both district and township road systems,” he said. Despite the infrastructure challenges, Masumo noted that phased disbursement of the Constiuency Development Fund (CDF) has sustained development momentum while promoting accountability.

 He pointed out that, even as road issues persist, CDF investments are beginning to deliver visible improvements in education, health, and public service delivery across the district. Local authorities maintain that addressing Mumbwa’s road network is vital to unlocking the full benefits of recent mineral discoveries and ensuring long-term, inclusive growth for the area

Article by Karen Ngulube