Siavonga road works irk residents

Thu, 15 Feb 2018 08:58:19 +0000

By OLIVER SAMBOKO 

THE decision by the Road Development Agency (RDA) to patch up potholes on Siavonga roads instead of carrying out a complete overhaul as promised by Government has disappointed  local residents.

Recently, Siavonga district commissioner Lovemore Kanyama disclosed that RDA would by first week of January, 2018, commence works on the modernisation of township roads in the area which cheered most residents.

A check by the Daily Nation near Kanyelele market along hospital/Kariba Inns road found RDA workers patching some parts of the road but residents and motorists spoken to expressed disappointment at the turn of events.

A motorist, Mr Michelo Choomba, said Government was collecting a lot of money in form of taxes from lodges dotted around the tourist town, saying it should consider using part of the money to repair the roads in the area.  “With all fairness RDA should have repaired these roads a long time ago but the problem is that they don’t value tourism. That’s the reason why they are not concerned by the deplorable state of the roads despite the area contributing hefty taxes to the Treasury.  Another resident, a Mr. Phiri alleged that some officials from RDA were benefitting more from carrying out road patching “I think the relevant Government ministry should look at these irrational decisions by RDA because it’s like these people are benefiting from the pothole patching projects being carried out, said Mr. Phiri