The Road Development Agency (RDA) has awarded contracts to two construction companies to rehabilitate the Chinsali-Nakonde road at over K1.4 billion where 1,400 jobs are expected to be created. Works on the 210km road, which is notorious for fatal accidents due to its deplorable state, are expected to start as soon as contractors mobilise themselves.

RDA director Elias Mwape announced at a media briefing yesterday the awarding of contracts to China State Construction Engineering Limited and China Railway Seventh Group. China State Construction Engineering Limited will work on a 103km stretch of the road between Chinsali and Isoka at K785 million while China Railway Seventh Group will do the 107km Isoka-Nakonde road at K713 million.

“The 40-month project will include works but not limited to clearing and grabbing, road signage and earth works,” he said.  Mr Mwape said the road will also be widened from 6.1 metres to nine metres with a shoulder of two metres to enhance safety. He said the two contracts will run concurrently.
Mr Mwape said the two Chinese companies were the best evaluated bidders from the 35 firms around the world which expressed interest in the tender.

“The Chinsali-Nakonde road was constructed in the 1970s and, despite several maintenance works, it has remained in a deplorable state,” he said.
Mr Mwape said the road is an economic route which links Zambia to Tanzania. He said the project has been funded by the African Development Bank, Government and other partners.

Mr Mwape said 50km of feeder roads will also be worked on under the same project, including planting of 10,000 trees along the road.
“About 15 boreholes will also be sunk for communities where the project will take place,” he said. Mr Mwape said women contractors will be identified and trained to maintain the road as a way of empowering them.

China State Construction Engineering Limited director Feng Weibo is aware of the great responsibility the company has been given and will use its experience to execute the works. “We will take necessary measures to ensure that we improve lives of people where we are going to do the works,” he said.

Mr Feng said the company is committed to maintaining a good relationship between Zambia and China. China Railway Seventh Group managing director Li Songquan pledged commitment to completing works within the agreed time frame. The two contractors also pledged to subcontract Zambian