By JACKSON MAPAPAYI
GOVERNMENT should disclose what is contained in the Public Private Partnership (PPP)’s 25-year concession agreement with Nhkulu Zambia Limited and the South Africa Business Development Forum for the construction of the 2000 kilometres road project, former North-Western Province minister Dawson Kafwaya has challenged.
A fortnight ago, Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Charles Milupi announced the approval of the 25-year concession agreement of the road project.
Mr Milupi said the project will see the construction and rehabilitation of international road linkages and trade facilitation routes connecting North-Western, Copperbelt and Western provinces respectively to Namibia, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo through various border entry points.
He also disclosed that the considered package for the project dubbed the Western Trade Facilitation routes corridor include resettlement schemes and border facilities through a finance, design, construction, rehabilitate, operate, maintain and transfer Public Private Partnership model at a cost of US$3.7 billion.
He disclosed that the project will solely be financed by the Southern African Business Development Forum.
But Mr Kafwaya has demanded for the disclosure of what is contained in the agreement.
He said the USD 3.7 billion is a block figure hence the need for government to inform the general public whether the amount includes the principle plus the interest.
“If it is just the principle, then it will interesting to know the details. This are some of the things that require government to explain to the people so that they know, ” said Mr Kafwaya.
He said disclosing what is contained in the concession agreement will show how transparent government is on the project.
Mr Kafwaya has however said the pegging of a one kilometre stretch at US$1.8 million by Government under the same project is justifiable.
He said this is because prices for road construction materials have gone up while some roads will be constructed in Greenfields.
“So, looking at the economy, the prices of materials and what is involved in road projects, the price per kilometre is ok,” he said.
Mr Kafwaya said even the road projects which were undertaken by the previous regime were fairly priced.
He has challenged engineers to come out in the open and explain to the people what is involved in such projects.
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