Maravi

State takes different route on roads programme

State takes different route on roads programme
By Times Reporter

GOVERNMENT will revise the road rehabilitation programme in a pattern that will enable the state to concentrate on particular stretches in phases as opposed to handling the entire network at once. Works and Supply Minister Kapembwa Simbao observed that Government had failed to complete the construction the country’s main roads and bridges because of tackling too many projects at the same time. Mr Simbao said this in Parliament yesterday when he delivered a policy statement on estimates of expenditure for his ministry for the year 2007.

He said some of the main roads that were done at the same time included the Kasama-Luwingu, Choma-Niko, Mongu-Kalabo, Kasempa turn-off to Kabompo, the Chembe and Mbesuma bridges, among others. He said the cost of the roads totalled K112.3 billion which was direct Government funding. The actual direct funding in the Budget was K 124 billion. “For example in 2007, K20 billion has been set aside for the Kasempa turn-off to Kabompo road. This amount will only cover about 20 kilometres. With this kind of allocation yearly, it will take 10 years to reach Kabompo,” Mr Simbao said.

The minister suggested that for the country to have a good road network, Government should work on one road at a time and by 2010, all the main roads would have been rehabilitated. He said the Roads Development Agency (RDA), which was established in 2002, was now fully-fledged. The RDA was formed with the sole purpose of developing the road sector in the country. The Government was committed to rehabilitating main roads in all the provinces. He commended the European Union (EU) and other cooperating partners for their assistance in rehabilitating some roads.

And Finance and National Planning Minister Ng’andu Magande told the House that the Task Force on Corruption was studying some of the development agreements signed between mining investors.
Mr Magande said this when winding up debate on the Mines and Minerals Bill which came up for second reading. The Bill will come before the committee stage on Wednesday next week. He said this in apparent reference to Mbabala MP Emmanuel Hachipuka (UPND) who in his contribution questioned the logic behind giving mining agreements which would last for 20 or more years.
“The executive should send the Task Force to see what made Zambia get into the mining mess on development agreements. The Task Force should do a forensic investigation into the development agreements,” Mr Hachipuka said.

Chairperson on the committee on estimates to consider the Mines and Mineral Amendment Bill, Godfrey Beene said the proposal to amend corporate tax on mining from 25 to 30 per cent, increase mineral royalty tax from 0.6 to three per cent and to re-introduce the standard rate of 15 per cent withholding tax on dividends had brought some relief to many Zambians. Mr Beene, who is Itezhi-Tezhi MP (UPND), said such measures were an indication that the Government had paid attention to the concerns raised by the citizens.

Luena MP Charles Milupi (Independent) said now was the right time to seriously look at the Bill as the copper prices had increased. He said the privatisation of the mines was done at a time when copper prices had reached the lowest levels. The Customs and Excise Amendment Bill also came up for the second reading.

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posted by MrK @ 12:14 AM