Govt to tackle flooding in Matero

Lawrence Sichalwe

Government has assured Matero residents that it is doing everything possible to ensure the problem of floods they have been facing as a result of rain water emanating from town is addressed.

Deputy Minister in the office of the Vice President Lawrence Sichalwe says government realizes the extent of damage floods have caused to infrastructure, human life and people’s livelihood and will therefore not spare any effort to ensure the problem is fixed.

Speaking soon after inspecting the ongoing Construction of a Bridge on Chitanda road in Matero Constituency’s Muchinga Ward 24, Mr. Sichalwe noted the importance of the bridge to the community in facilitating movement of goods and services.

Mr. Sichalwe has since appealed to the residents to protect the lifespan of the facility, noting that huge sums of money have been spent.

He has also pleaded with truck drivers to desist from overloading to help safeguard the designated lifespan of the bridge as well as prevent premature deterioration and collapse of the bridge.

Mr Sichalwe says the bridge which is being constructed at a cost of 450 thousand Kwacha by Zambia National Service (ZNS) will be completed on 28^th January, 2016.

And But Muchinga ward 24 councilor Lee Mukupa says maximum measures have been put in place to check the abuse of the bridge and appealed to the residents and commuters not to vandalize the bridge.

But the construction of the bridge in Muchinga ward 24 has been received with mixed feelings by the residents.

The residents complained that the construction of the bridge will not help reduce the problem of floods they have been facing.

They have since called on government to put up more drains in the area.