Mokambo road works to proceed-DC

Mufulira District Commissioner Evaristo Chilumba has assured residents that the $56.7 million Mufulira-Mokambo road project will proceed uninterrupted beyond the upcoming general elections, dismissing claims that the infrastructure initiative is merely a political campaign…

Mufulira District Commissioner Evaristo Chilumba has assured residents that the $56.7 million Mufulira-Mokambo road project will proceed uninterrupted beyond the upcoming general elections, dismissing claims that the infrastructure initiative is merely a political campaign gimmick.

Speaking during an onsite inspection of the ongoing engineering works, Mr Chilumba emphasised that the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement underpinning the road was established long before the electoral cycle.

He urged members of the public to have faith in President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration, citing its unwavering commitment to delivering critical national infrastructure.

“This project will not stall and it will continue even after the general elections,” Mr Chilumba stated.

He noted that the arrangement was secured independently of political timelines and urged residents to have faith in President Hakainde Hichilema and the government’s commitment to ensuring the road’s completion.

Mr Chilumba pointed out that construction of the road had initially commenced under the Patriotic Front government, stating that money had been spent yet works had not been done.

He explained that when the United Party for National Development government came into power in 2021, they commenced the process of construction from scratch, including having to find a new contractor.

“The contractor is currently on site conducting the road works and the project is moving,” the District Commissioner said.

Mr Chilumba disclosed that graveling works have so far been done on the entire stretch of the road up to the border, while noting that tarring of some patches of the road has already commenced.

He stated that the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

Mr. Chilumba stated that the comprehensive infrastructure upgrade includes upgrading the carriageway from Mufulira to Mokambo to bituminous standard, constructing a modern toll plaza, and building a modern border post at Mokambo.

He said that the modern border post will help in speeding up the clearing process of trucks going to the nearby Democratic Republic of Congo.

Highlighting the immediate local impact, Mr Chilumba noted that for many years, residents using the road were subjected to spending about over an hour travelling from Mufulira to Mokambo due to the bad state of the road.

“After the works are done, residents will now spend less than 30 minutes travelling to the border,” he said.

Mr Chilumba said the road will ease access for residents and improve mobility on the road.

He stated that residents suffered, being stuck in mud and potholes, especially during the rainy season for many years, due to the bad state of the road, adding that this will all be a thing of the past thanks to government’s commitment to ensure that the road is completed quickly.

Mr Chilumba noted that the road is of benefit to the entire country as it connects Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) thereby boosting inter-country trade.