Tue, 15 Aug 2017 12:59:48 +0000
By Michael Miyoba
A GOOD road contributes massively to the economic development of a country.
More so when the road seats in the heart of the industrial hub of the capital city, its value can not be disregarded.
Why then is Lusaka’s Lumumba road ignored year in year out? What will it take for the government to recognize that this road needs to be resurfaced along with all other roads under the L400.
Most governments around the world are alive to this fact and this is why the Zambian government too has invested massively in the construction of roads across the country.
New roads have been constructed while some old ones have been renovated under the Link Zambia 8000 LZ800 and the L400 projects.
A very good example of roads constructed under the LZ8000 are the Mbala-Nakonde, Luangwa-Feira roads, the Leopards Hill to Katuba, and the Mansa-Luwingu road which has been of so much benefit to the local people.
And while roads such as Chilimbulu and Burma Roads in Lusaka have been renovated to become among the best roads in Zambia, one wonders why the relevant authorities have played a deaf ear to the cry of many motorists who have called for the rehabilitation of one of the busiest road in Lusaka, the Lumumba Road.
It is a fact that Lumumba Road is one of the most important roads in Lusaka as motorists both local and foreign use it for the transfer of goods and services from one location to another.
Lumumba Road also accommodates Zambia’s industrial area, where the manufacturing of goods is done.
The biggest trading centres in Lusaka, COMESA and City Markets are also located along the road.
Therefore as a nation we cannot run away from the fact that Lumumba Road contributes massively to the economic development of our country and this is why motorists have continued to cry to the relevant authorities to work on the road which has become unbearable to drive on.
In January 2017, the Road Development Agency (RDA) patched up some parts of the deplorable Lumumba Road after complaints from motorists that the road was in a poor state but of what impact has the patching been towards the improvement of the road?
“You don’t know the agony I go through. Driving on Lumumba Road has become a nightmare. I’m always taking my vehicle for servicing because of the poor state the road is in.
“And the sad part is that there is nothing I can do because I work from this area (Industrial Area),” narrated Mr. John Soko, a frequent user of the road.
Sadly it’s not only Mr. Soko who suffers the agony of driving on Lumumba Road. The rainy season is around the corner, another reason for motorist to be concerned.
“I don’t know why the local authorities are dillydallying to perfect this road. It is embarrassing to see our friends from other countries driving on this road because our neighbours have invested massively towards road construction.
“Go to South Africa or Namibia, you will not be able to find such roads,” said Mr Joseph Lungu, a Zambian truck driver.
It is distressing for sure to realize that our friends from neighbouring countries also use the road which has become a nightmare to drive on.
This is why there is need for the relevant authorities to modernize Lumumba Road as soon as possible. RDA has been given the mandate to maintain the roads in Zambia but on several occasions the agency has stated that there is no funds to work on Lumumba Road which is part of the L400 project which is a contractor- financed project.
“It is disappointing to hear RDA saying that there is no money to repair the road when the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) pockets a lot of revenue in tolls. RDA is saying that the L400 contractor finance project is still awaiting the release of funds to commence works on the road.
“Why can’t the NRFA channel the funds collected towards the rehabilitation of Lumumba road? asked Mr. Mwikisa.
It is on record that in a space of four months, NRFA collected K170 million in tolls from January to April 2017.
NRFA spokesperson Alphonsius Hamachila disclosed this, noting that they expected to collect an estimated figure of about K670 million in tolls by the end of 2017.
This is very impressive. Yes very “Impressive” to know that motorists are very committed to paying road tax therefore the revenue collected from road tax should be channeled towards the development of roads such as Lumumba road.
Lumumba Road’s importance towards the economic development of our country cannot be over emphasized and therefore there is need for the relevant authorities to cooperate to save the road which has become so unbearable to drive on.
