• In October 2022RDA engaged China Geo Corporation to undertake holding maintenance works.
• The scope of works includes re-construction of damaged section to include double surfacing, pothole patching, and temporal works.
• The contractor has since started with temporal works.
Road Development Agency (RDA) has dismissed media reports suggesting that the Serenje to Chinsali road has been turned into a gravel road as good progress on the temporal works has been done so far.
In a statement, RDA Acting Director Communications and Corporate Affairs, Anthony Mulowa disclosed that in October 2022, Government, through RDA engaged China Geo Corporation to undertake holding maintenance works on the road from Serenje to Chinsali which has been in deplorable condition for a number of good years now.
Mr. Mulowa said the scope of works includes re-construction of damaged section to include double surfacing, pothole patching, reshaping of side and mitre drains, sub-surface drainage (rockfill), and temporal works to ensure smooth travel of the vehicles.
“The contractor has since started with temporal works and after all the bad sections have been made passable, the contractor would proceed to undertake other works as outlined in the scope,” Mr. Mulowa stated.
He added that the procurement of the civil works contract would be concluded in the second quarter of 2023.
And Mr. Mulowa revealed that Government has received financing amounting to € 110 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and a grant totaling € 72.45 million from the European Union towards rehabilitation of 162 kilometers of the Mpika-Chinsali road section.
He further said the African Development Bank (AfDB) has expressed interest to finance the rehabilitation of a 60 kilometers stretch from Mpika towards Serenje.
“Hence, a tender for the consultancy services for design review or updating and preparation of tender documents for the rehabilitation of the section of the Serenje to Mpika road from the start of the dual carriageway section in Mpika was launched and closed in August 2022. The tender is currently under evaluation,” he added.
Mr. Mulowa pledged RDA’s committed to ensuring that the entire stretch from Serenje to Nakonde is fully rehabilitated in a phased approach.
