Govt refutes reports Kazungula bridge works have been halted

Government has refuted media reports suggesting that the contractor working on the Kazungula Bridge across the Zambezi River which will link Zambia and Botswana has abandoned works in protest over delayed payment of his dues.

Housing and Infrastructure Development Permanent Secretary Charles Mushota says contrary to the reports, the contractor has been working on the bridge as of Friday last week.

Mr. Mushota says the contractor only suspended the works after a protest by workers, but that works resumed after the contractor was assured that government is working on his payment.

In an interview with Q-News, Mr. Mushota has disclosed that as of last week Friday the Ministry of Finance had transferred K20 million to the contractor Daewoo Engineering and Construction.

Mr. Mushota says the contractor should receive the money either by the end of Monday or on Tuesday.

He has disclosed that government owes the contractor US$ 14.8 million and that government is actively working at paying the amount in full.