RDA sign more road contracts

he Road Development Agency has signed three contracts worth more than 494 million Kwacha with three construction companies.

Inyatsi has been awarded the contract to conduct Periodic maintenance of 136.6 kilometers of the Solwezi to Mwinilunga road in Northern Western Province

AVIC international has been awarded the contract to upgrade 90 Kilometers of the Isoka Muyombe- Chama Lundazi Road in Muchinga province.

The contract which is worth 332 million Kwacha will be executed in 24 months.

Wah Kong enterprise will construct the New Kafue weighbridge in 12 months at a construct sum of 21 million Kwacha.

Road Development Agency Chief Executive Officer, Bernard Chiwala signed the contracts with officials from INYATSI, AVIC and WAH KONG.

Mr Chiwala says the agency expects all projects to be executed on schedule and to the highest standard.

On the New Kafue Weigh bridge, Mr Chiwala says the new weigh bridge will be on the opposite side of the existing Kafue weigh bridge.

He said objective is to reduce traffic congestion and facilitate efficient trade.

Government has released 3 point 2 Million Kwacha to Mongu district in Western Province to support 500 mango farmers in the district.

Commerce Trade and Industry Minister Robert Sichinga says the funds will help promote in the value addition to mangoes produced in Mongu district.

Mr. Sichinga who was recently in Mongu district to flag off the Mango value addition chain says the move will also help in the reduction of mango wastage in the district.

The Minister noted that Mongu district is one of the highest producers of Mango fruits in Zambia but that over 180 tons of it go to waste every year.

According to the Central Statistics Office, Mongu district produces approximately 187 metric tones of Mangoes per annum.

Construction of the 13.5 Million Kwacha Mulobezi District Hospital may NOT be completed on schedule due to the erratic water supply at the construction site.

Mulobezi District Commissioner Albetina Mwanamwalye says several developmental projects including the district hospital may lag behind because of lack of water supply.

Ms. Mwanamwalye was speaking in an interview with ZNBC News in Livingstone on Friday.

She says works at projects such as the hospital, the police station and new council houses are moving at a snail’s pace as the only source of water is a small stream which unfortunately dries up periodically.

Ms. Mwanamwalye says the situation has been compounded by the contractor who has abandoned the installation of the water system in the district.

She has appealed to relevant authorities to help address the water challenges that the newly created district is facing.