$137m for roads

The World Bank this year gave Zambia about 137 Million US dollars for rehabilitation and construction of bridges and roads in the country.

National Road Fund Agency -NRFA Public Relations officer Alphosius Hamachila says the first 50 million US dollars was disbursed in the first phase for rehabilitation of the Lusaka -Chirundu road.

Mr Hamachila said the rest of the money was given for construction of Mufuchani Bridge, the Chiawa bridge as well as construction of priority river crossings.

He was speaking in an interview with ZNBC’s Barbara Malilwe on the sidelines of the ongoing 14th Africa Road Maintenance Funds Association-ARMFA Conference in Kinshasa Congo DR.

And the World bank has urged African countries to start sourcing for funds internally for road rehabilitation and construction.

World Bank Congo Country director Ahmadou Moustapha Ndiaye said there is need for African countries to start generating their own funding for road projects.

Mr Ndiaye said countries should also ensure that they set aside funds for regular maintenance of road network and reduce the high cost of rehabilitation once the road gets run down.

Mr Ndiaye said this when he made his keynote address to delegates at the 14th the Africa Road Maintenance Funds Association-ARMFA Conference in Kinshasa Congo DR.

znbc