Zambia’s Road Development Agency (RDA) has awarded a US$108 million contract to Sino-Hydro Zambia Limited for the construction of a 45.5 kilometre dual carriageway from Kitwe to Chingola.
RDA director and chief executive officer Bernard Chiwala said the contract will be undertaken within 24 months from the date of execution.
Mr Chiwala said during the signing ceremony in Lusaka yesterday that the contractor is expected to get mobilised within 60 days from yesterday.
“The Kitwe-Chingola road is a vital road that forms part of the regional trunk road network and is an important link on the North-South corridor.
“The route carries a lot of international traffic and links the Copperbelt and north-western Zambia to the rest of the country and beyond borders,” he said.
He noted that the carrying capacity of the road has over the years reduced as evidenced by the increasing congestion and fatal road traffic accidents.
Mr Chiwala said completion of the construction of the road will enhance safety features and reduce road traffic accidents between Kitwe and Chingola.
He said other benefits of the planned dual carriage way include reduced travel time and eased transportation of various goods and services between mining towns and beyond the Copperbelt Province.
And Sino Zambia chairman Benjiang Liu commended Government for entrusting his company with the responsibility of executing the project.
The project will form part of Zambia’s Link-800 project. The RDA, which was placed under direct control of President Michael Sata at State House last year, has awarded a number of roads contracts to Chinese companies, despite earlier campaign promises to reduce Zambia’s dependence on Asian investors.
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