• Construction of the laboratory currently stands at 85%.
• RDA Kabwe regional offices facelift was done at a cost of K800, 000.
• Engineer George Manyele proposed that the Police service should in future provide input in road designs by suggesting where they would be mounting check points.

The Road Development Agency (RDA) says it is constructing a materials laboratory in Kabwe, Central Province at a cost of K500, 000 that will be used for testing and measuring materials used in road construction.
Senior Engineer Contracts at the RDA Central Province Regional Office Engineer Peter Sinkonde said construction of the laboratory currently stand at 85%.
Mr. Sinkonde however revealed that RDA Kabwe regional offices facelift was done at a cost of K800, 000.
He explained that the funds for constructing the laboratory came through the ongoing urban roads project in Kabwe.
“As RDA we are the supervisors for the ongoing Kabwe Urban Roads project and in that project there is an allocation for maintenance of Engineers facilities. So we took advantage of that and constructed a laboratory at a cost of K500, 000 and refurbished our offices at a cost of K800, 000,” Engineer Sinkonde said.
Meanwhile RDA and Chief Executive Officer Engineer George Manyele proposed that the Police service should in future provide input in road designs by suggesting where they would be mounting check points or road blocks.
He said when motor vehicles stop on check points and road blocks; they exert more pressure on the road, a situation that increases wear and tear on the highway.
“We are proposing that in future, give suggestions to the Agency on areas where check points or road blocks can be mounted, this will give us chance to construct strong concrete roads on such portions as currently there is increased deterioration of the road on places where check points and road blocks are mounted,” Eng. Manyele said.
The Chief executive officer has since commended the Zambia Police Service for partnering with the Agency in safeguarding road infrastructure in the country.