Road Construction works cheers President Lungu

President Edgar Lungu says he is delighted with the ongoing road works on the Copperbelt Province.

President Lungu said he is in the Province to have a physical inspection of the road works and other projects that are underway.

ZANIS reports that the Head of State said this when he made a stopover to address scores of people that followed him as he toured Chingola township roads.

He urged the people of Copperbelt Province to work with contractors who are carrying out road works in the area.

And President Lungu warned the people against vandalising construction materials and road signs.

President Lungu has so far, toured Sowelzi- Chingola road and Chingola township roads that are under construction.

MEANWHILE Works on the construction of the 1.4 Billion Kwacha Chingola-Solwezi road are expected to be completed next month with only 3killomters of works remaining.

ZANIS reports that the Road Development Agency Corporate Affairs Manager, Masuzyo Ndhlovu said the agency is happy that the contractors have not just shaped up a beautiful road but done quality and durable work.

Mr.  Ndhlovu said it is gratifying to see a road that was in a bad state for many years being upgraded to a standard that has smoothened the mobility of both goods and services.

He said the road is an economic one, whose current state will without any doubt spur trade between North-Western and other provinces in the country and beyond.

Mr.  Ndhlovu said all the major works are done with drainages and other minor works remaining.

And residents of Muchinshi have saluted government for having listened to their cries of having the road worked on.

They said the previous state of the 180 kilometre stretch did not only affect their movement but impeded commerce between Copperbelt and North-Western Provinces.

And President Lungu has questioned why foreign contractors are not adhering to the policy of awarding 20 percent to local contractors.

The Head of State said government is in a process of upscaling the policy to 50 percent but wondered whether that will be attained when the current 20 percent is not being adhered to.

President Lungu has since directed Minister of Infrastructure Development, Ronald Chitotela and his Special Assistant for Project, Monitoring and Implementation, Andrew Chellah to ensure that all foreign contractors adhere to his directive.

The president said this when he toured the Chingola-Solwezi Toll Plaza.