Chief appeals for completion of stalled projects in Chongwe
By JOHN KOMBE
Senior chieftainess Nkhomeshya Mukamamba II of the Soli people of Lusaka Province has appealed to the government to complete infrastructure projects which had stalled as far back as 2014.
The traditional leader made the observation when minister of infrastructure, housing and urban development, Charles Milupi and Chongwe member of parliament, Sylvia Masebo paid a courtesy call on her at her palace recently. The two were in Chongwe to check on road projects.
She lamented that the district had lagged behind in development, stating that major projects such as the upgrade of key roads and two universities had stalled while other districts have had a fair share of development.
She however hailed the previous government for successfully upgrading the 45 kms Leopards Hill road from the State Lodge Junction in Lusaka to Katoba in Chongwe.
She said that this is in contrast to the RD149 and D151 road that runs from Chongwe hospital to Katoba ward which was abandoned by a named contractor. She said that the Chongwe/Katoba road which connects to the completed Leopards Hill road had stalled since 2014 thereby rendering the whole project incomplete but noted that the road once completed would create an alternative route to and from Lusaka.
She also bemoaned the delayed upgrading of Chalimbana and Palabana colleges to universities and that the projects which were launched in 2012 had stalled for a long time which she said made the completed infrastructure vulnerable to dilapidation.
She therefore appealed to the government to consider completing the stalled projects which she said would greatly change the face of the district.
And minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, Charles Milupi assured the traditional leader that his ministry would evaluate the stalled projects in order to ensure that they are attended to.
Meanwhile, Chongwe Member of Parliament, Sylvia Masebo was hopeful that the stalled projects would be funded in the 2022 national budget.
She said that the road projects needed to be completed because the district was the food basket of Lusaka province andpointed out that the farming community needed good roads for them to have easy access to the market.
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