Batoka-Maamba Road ready this month end

Thu, 22 Jun 2017 10:51:23 +0000

By KALOBWE BWALYA

WORKS on the Batoka -Maamba Road that was washed away by heavy rains early this year are expected to be completed by the end of this month, Southern Provincial minister Edify Hamukale has said.

Dr Hamukale however said that the road would only be opened to the public after the remaining 43 kilometers had been done.

He said Sinazongwe district employed about 4,000 people in different business activities and therefore the closure of the road had a negative effect on the people’s livelihood.

Dr Hamukale said the road was important because it provided access to Maamba Collieries limited and Column Coal mine, who were big coal producers in Zambia.

He said the closure of the road hampered the transportation of Kapenta, fish, farm produce and other merchandize to and from Sinazongwe district.

Dr Hamukale said now that the road will be open to the public, the production of Kapenta in the district will rise.

“The works on the Maamba-Batoka road have been completed and the road will be open to the general public by the end of this month. I’m thanking President Edgar Lungu for the quick intervention and support towards the road repair,” said Dr Hamukale.

Parts of the highway were washed away by heavy rains on two sections and about 38 and 43 kilometers away from Choma, prompting the Road Development Agency (RDA) to set aside K6 million for road repairs and the works were being carried by the team from RDA, ZNS and Zambia Army.