Mungwi Council plans K4.5 million Truck Park

Mungwi Town Council in Northern Province has announced plans to construct a truck park at a cost of 4.5 million Kwacha under the Zambia Devolution Support Programme (ZDSP). Mungwi Town Council Secretary Benjamin Kasongo says the project is expected to expand the council’s revenue…

 Mungwi Town Council in Northern Province has announced plans to construct a truck park at a cost of 4.5 million Kwacha under the Zambia Devolution Support Programme (ZDSP).

Mungwi Town Council Secretary Benjamin Kasongo says the project is expected to expand the council’s revenue base and ultimately improve service delivery.

Mr Kasongo explained that the council has also procured a tractor using 2023 ZDSP funds to improve service delivery in trading areas.

He said the planned truck park demonstrates the importance of the devolution funds in supporting local development.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting held at Martin Mwamba Hall in Mungwi, Mr Kasongo said the local authority had also procured chairs for the community hall using the same funds.

He reaffirmed the council’s commitment to transparency and accountability in the utilisation of ZDSP resources.

And Mungwi Town Council Director of Engineering Services Chupa Chitala highlighted some of the projects the council plans to undertake using the World Bank-supported funds.

Mr Chitala listed the projects as construction of a truck park, connection of electricity to the modern market, construction of an ablution block at Makasa Market and rehabilitation of Ilamfya Guest House.

He said the proposed truck park will include accommodation, a restaurant, security facilities and a water reticulation system that will also benefit surrounding communities.

Mr Chitala told stakeholders that traditional leaders have already provided land for the proposed truck park at Kateshi along the Kasama-Mbala Road.

And Mungwi Council Chairperson Henry Mumba said the truck park will enable the council to generate additional revenue that can be channelled back into the community through various services.

“We need to take advantage of the heavy traffic of trucks moving along the Kasama-Mbala Road to invest in public parks and other infrastructure and raise revenue,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mungwi resident Kennedy Mushipi, who attended the meeting, supported the initiative, saying it would help increase revenue for the council.

The meeting was also attended by representatives of Chief Makasa, more than 10 village head persons, political parties and church leadership.