RDA completes 22% of Samfya-Kasaba road

THE Road Development Agency (RDA) says works on the Samfya-Kasaba road via Lubwe have reached 22 percent. RDA Resident Engineer Julius Daka says the project is being constructed at a cost of K937.9 million, and will be completed in September 2027. The contract for the project was signed on August 18, 2025 with China Civil […]

THE Road Development Agency (RDA) says works on the Samfya-Kasaba road via Lubwe have reached 22 percent.

RDA Resident Engineer Julius Daka says the project is being constructed at a cost of K937.9 million, and will be completed in September 2027.

The contract for the project was signed on August 18, 2025 with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC)(Z) Ltd, in joint venture with Palmetto Trading Ltd, and works commenced on September 19, 2025.

Speaking during a site inspection in Chifunabuli District, Friday, RDA Chief Communications and Corporate Affairs Manager Anthony Mulowa said the project was transformative for Luapula Province.

He said the road would improve access to social services in Lubwe Mission area and unlock tourism potential at Kasaba and Lake Bangweulu.

“We are on site at the Samfya-Kasaba via Lubwe road project, another equally transformative project on our road network. This project also encompasses five kilometers of township roads here in the Lubwe mission area. You can recall that Lubwe Mission is amongst the old Missionary Settlements which was established in 1905 by the White Fathers and contributes highly in terms of not only faith, but also education as well as health care services. So obviously this route will work towards enhancing the social services as well as the economic services,” he said.

“Where the road terminates is at Kasaba and another tourist attraction on the shores of Lake Bangweulu. So, meaning once completed, tourism activities will not only flourish on the mainland, but also open up for the Kasaba Bay area because motorists and tourists will have easy access. Like the consultant had mentioned, the project started in September, that was just shortly before the rainy season and they had to resume, intensify after the rainy season. And after that, 22 percent has been attained and we continue to register progress. We just encourage them to continue pushing.”

Mulowa added that diversions had been completed to ease movement during construction and appealed to motorists to observe safety.

“We are happy to note that the diversion has been completed all through the project area. So this will also at least allow the local people to use the diversion while the works are undergoing. I will just appeal to the motorists to abide by the traffic regulations and the flagmen on the project so that we have minimal disruption on this very important project, so that we can complete within two years,” said Mulowa.

And Daka said the project involved upgrading 80 kilometers of the Samfya-Kasaba road and 5km of township roads in Lubwe at a total cost of K937.9 million.

“The Project, identified under Works Contract No. RDA/CE/ONB/013/2024, entails the upgrading of approximately 80 km of the Samfya-Kasaba road via Lubwe (D096) including five kilometers of township roads in Chifunabuli district. The contract sum for the works is ZMW 937,929,384.70 (VAT Inclusive). The contract was signed on 18th August, 2025 with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC)(Z) Ltd in joint venture with Palmetto Trading Ltd, and works commenced on 19th September, 2025. It being a contract of 24 months duration, the completion date is 18th September, 2027. Current works include earthworks and subgrade processing in Kasaba and Ndoba/Lubwe areas, and concrete casting on all five decks of a box culvert has been completed. The work is at 22 percent,” said Daka.

Meanwhile, RDA Luapula Province Provincial Roads Engineer Wanzi Zulu said the Agency’s focus was on timely delivery, cost and quality.

“Upgrading the 80 kilometers of the Samfya-Kasaba via Lubwe project, I think ours is to ensure that we are able to have the completion of the project in time, right cost as well as quality. So in a sense, we are trying to achieve the project objective which entails that we want to have reduced travel time by the people and the community around this place, as well as vehicle operating costs will see it reduced once the project is completed. The overall project stands at close to 22 percent and we are excited that from this time on, we’ll see much of progress. This region has so much rainfall and therefore this window which is favorable for works we will see that much of the progress to ensure that the project comes to completion by September 2027,” said Zulu.