Sat, 25 Mar 2017 11:41:40 +0000

Govt terminates K2.2 m Toll gate plaza contract

GOVERNMENT has with immediate effect terminated the K2.2 million contract for Nzovu Construction which was contracted to build the toll plaza at Manyumbi between Kabwe and Kapiri Mposhi Districts.

Central Province Minister Sydney Mushanga said the contract had been terminated because of the slow pace at which Nzovu Construction Company was undertaking the works and the second contractor had already been identified to complete the works.

Last year Minister of Housing and Infrastructure development, Ronald Chitotela gave a 10-day ultimatum to Nzovu Construction Company, in which to complete the works at Manyumbi toll plaza or risk having the contract terminated.

Mr Mushanga said the National Road Fund (NFRA) Agency had released funds to the Road Development Agency to facilitate for construction of a by-pass road before the toll gates were put in place, further commended Avic contractors for completing the works on Schedule.

“The 32 Million Kwacha Chisamba toll Plaza will be operational in the next 3weeks, the toll Plaza which is so far the largest Constructed in the Country will play a key role in raising funds for road rehabilitation,” said Mr Mushanga.

The minister who toured the construction site yesterday, found that about 90 percent of the works were already complete, adding that the Infrastructure being undertaken was as a result of the proactive Government of President Edgar Lungu.

And Mr Chitotela said that Government was disappointed that Nzovu construction Limited failed to complete the works three months after the scheduled completion date.

“We gave a stern warning to the contractor working on the Manyumbi toll gate plaza. We have told him to finish the works in 10 days or leave Government with no option but to terminate the contract.

“The contractor was supposed to finish the work by October 2016 but he had asked for an extension of up to late November 2016, which was given. The contractor has, however, not finished the works even after being given the said extension and as Government, we can no longer tolerate this.

“This delayed completion is unacceptable and we shall not take it lightly at all and if the contractor does not finish the work by next week Thursday, we shall remain with no other option but to terminate his contract,” Mr Chitotela said.

He said construction of the Manyumbi toll plaza had taken more than the necessary time to complete and had inconvenienced motorists and road users and delayed Government’s quest to conveniently collect revenue from the toll.

Mr Chitotela also warned other contractors working on different projects under infrastructure and housing that unnecessary delays in completing projects will not be entertained.