Fulfill Sata promise on Siavonga lakeshore road

Tue, 06 Feb 2018 13:35:45 +0000

By OLIVER SAMBOKO.

VILLAGERS living on the shores of Lake Kariba in Siavonga district have asked the PF Government to honour the promise made by late former President Michael Sata to construct a 52km tarred road in the area.

During a visit to the resort town in late 2013, the late President promised the community living on the lake shore that government was going to construct them a 52km long road to boast tourism and ease transportation of goods and services to the locals.

Speaking to the Daily Nation on behalf other villagers, Cosmas Simweemba said the area needs a road to attract investment in both the tourism and aquaculture sectors which will in turn create employment for the jobless youths in the area.

“When the late President made this important pronouncement, he brought a smile on our faces. Many people responded by acquiring land along the shores in anticipation of the boost in commerce and trade as a result of the coming of a good road, but to date, no one wants to talk about it. The issue is buried and forgotten. Perhaps it will resurrect during election campaigns in 2021,”

He said the construction of a modern tarred road along the shores will not only benefit the tourism and the aquaculture sectors but also improve the lives of the people of Siavonga, especially those in the area.

“Life expectancy for the people in the area will improve because thousands of Jobs will be created in the tourism sector and so people will be employed and able to support their families.”

“There will be better schools and health facilities funded by businesses as a way of ploughing back some of their profits as part of corporate social responsibility to the local community. Not only that, the local authority will have more revenue through levies and other taxes.

Mr. Simweemba further said the central government will be able to recover the money it will spend on the construction of the road through introduction of tolling fees as the road is expected to have heavy flow of traffic as a result of economic activities along the lake.