Mpika receives ‘unprecedented development’

Mon, 19 Jun 2017 09:25:43 +0000

By MUKOSELA KASALWE

MPIKA district is receiving unprecedented road infrastructure development contrary to assertions by Patriotic Front (PF) Mfuwe constituency secretary Joseph Chanda that residents of Nabwalya are upset with the pace of works, says PF Mpika information secretary Mayas Mwape.

Mr. Mwape said construction of the Mpika-Nabwalya road was progressing well and that the contractor was on site but stated that this was a new road which could not be done hastily.

In an interview over the weekend, he said it was unfortunate that a senior member of the party Mr. Chanda rushed to the Mast newspaper and disregarded all the available channels to air his grievances over the road project and alleged that Nabwalya residents were upset with the slow pace of the project.

Mr. Mwape said the Mpika-Nabwalya road project was not an overnight project and that this was because Nabwalya had a mountainous terrain which he said if it was not for modern technology and equipment the pace of the project would have been slow.

He said the road network involved about K500 million and that 37 kilometres stretch out of 110 km had been done.

“People of Mpika district and Nabwalya in particular are happy with the PF because we have received numerous infrastructure development.

“It is unfortunate that a senior member of the party rushed to the media and disregarded all channels of communication and alleged that the people of Nabwalya were upset with the pace of the road project,” he said.

Mr. Mwape said Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Ronald Chitotela was in Muchinga Province two weeks ago and assessed the road network and assured residents that funds for the project were available.

He said it was also not true assertions by Mr. Chanda that most Nabwalya residents had difficulties accessing national registration cards (NRCs).

Mr. Mwape said 10 boreholes had been put up in Nabwalya, a development he said had elated residents.