Maravi

DRC to meet financial obligation on Chembe bridge

DRC to meet financial obligation on Chembe bridge
By Mwila Chansa and Mwala Kalaluka in Chembe
Friday July 25, 2008 [04:00]

DEMOCRATIC Republic of Congo (DRC) Katanga Province governor Moses Katumbi has said his government will ensure that it meets its financial obligation on the Chembe bridge construction project. And Katumbi commended President Levy Mwanawasa and the Zambian government for the “marvelous accomplishment” on the construction of the K46 billion bridge across the Luapula River During a conducted tour of the bridge project with Zambian government officials yesterday, Katumbi said it was important that the DRC met its 50 per cent financial obligation on the project in retrospect.

“This is very good. I just want to congratulate the President (Mwanawasa) and I hope he is recovering soon, everyone is praying for him,” Katumbi said. “I was coming in Luapula at my fish business, I am from Luapula and I had my fishing camp in Nchelenge, I know how people suffered there on the pontoon (at Chembe).”

Katumbi also commended China Henan, the contractor and Kiran and Musonda Associates, the consultants, for the remarkable progress on the project earmarked for completion on September 28 this year.

Katumbi said his delegation, which was visiting the project for the first time was in the country to discuss with its Zambian counterparts the tarring of the 68-kilometre long Pedical Road which connects Luapula to Copperbelt via the DRC’s Katanga Province.

He also suggested that it would be appropriate to set up a 24-hour one-stop border post at the bridge.

Katumbi pledged that his government would ensure that the people at Mwenda in DRC relocated towards the bridge.

Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Commissioner General Chriticles Mwansa assured the DRC delegation that a legal framework to facilitate the establishment of a one-stop border point was in place.

Henry Musonda of Kiran Musonda and Associates said the width of the bridge, which is 10 metres was enough to allow two vehicles to cross at the same time.

Meanwhile, Katumbi said he would send a chopper to ferry the DRC’s Lunda King, Mwanta Yanvwa, to attend the Umutomboko of the Lunda people of Luapula.

Officials who were part of the Zambian government delegation included Copperbelt minister Mwansa Mbulakulima, his Luapula counterpart Crispin Musosha, works and supply deputy minister Mundia Ndalamei and permanent secretaries Clement Siame (Luapula) and Jennipher Musonda (Copperbelt).

Labels: BORDERS, CHEMBE BRIDGE, CHRITICLES MWANSA, DRC, KATANGA PROVINCE, KATUMBI, MWANAWASA, ZRA

posted by MrK @ 6:23 AM