Dear Editor,
INFRASTRUCTURE development has been the hallmark that the Patriotic Front government has synonymously identified itself.
During political campaigns in yesteryears nearly all political players had identified the shortcomings in infrastructure as the basis upon which they were to be seen as viable political alternatives.
With time, this stale song has withered away with the projects that have been initiated in the last 10 years owing to the robust and ambitious infrastructure development that has been initiated and implemented.
The PF government had embarked on activities that would restore the dilapidated infrastructure to give a face lift and restoration of infrastructure to past glory.
The infrastructure development projects has been in several sectors which include roads, air, energy, health among others.
The Link Zambia 8, 000 programme which was launched in November 2013 had interlined the various towns. Among them, Mbala to Nakonde; Luangwa Bridge to Feira; Bottom Road, from Njami to Munyumbwe; Chinsali to Nakonde; Kafue to Mazabuka; Luangwa to Mwami Border; Mongu to Kalabo; Mansa to Luwingu; Chingola to Solwezi; Chipata to Mfuwe; Chipata to Vubwi; Kalomo to Dundumwezi; Senanga to Sesheke; Kafue to Chirundu; Pedicle Road; feeder roads programme (4, 300 km) covering all the provinces.
The townships also had a fair share of development and an ambitious programme was launched under the C400 projects which was earmarked to rehabilitate the road infrastructure.
The PF has also facilitated the construction of the four fly over bridges which has the ripple economic benefits to the residents of Lusaka.
Beside that the number of bridges have been constructed and to mention but a few Kazungula Bridge; Michael Sata Bridge across the Kafue River towards Chiawa; Imwiko II Bridge on the Mongu – Kalabo Road; Sioma Bridge; Kafue Hook Bridge (under rehabilitation,) and Kafue Bridge in Kafue.
Government buildings have also received a fair share with six provincial administration blocks have been upgraded. Other beneficiaries of the infrastructure development includes the defence and security wings, aviation infrastructure, housing infrastructure, health infrastructure, trade facilitation infrastructure, rail infrastructure, power infrastructure, information communication technology infrastructure education infrastructure, water and sanitation infrastructure, agricultural infrastructure, Toll gates, private housing.
To have a sustainable infrastructure, the government intends to make substantial investment. For instance, it will empower the Road Development Agency to establish the administrative units to undertake periodic and routine maintenance works on all trunk and road furniture.
The establishment of administrative units will decentralise and promote efficiency in the decision-making process of RDA in so far as maintaining the roads is concerned.
The government is also on course to undertake an inventory and establish database of all its buildings and robust periodic and routine maintenance programmes using local contractors.
It is clear that Zambia has laid the framework for infrastructure and the next step is investing in the maintenance of the collective success Zambia and Zambians has scored with the Patriotic Front at the helm.
MARVIN CHANDA MBERI,
Lusaka.
