(LUSAKATIMES) President Banda confirms the reconnection of the Chirundu-Lusaka Road

President Banda confirms the reconnection of the Chirundu-Lusaka Road
Saturday, March 21, 2009, 19:58

President, Rupiah Banda, has confirmed that the Lusaka –Chirundu road that was extensively damaged cutting off the route that connects Zambia to the rest of Southern Africa, has been reconnected.

The damage of the road was caused by heavy rains ,leaving trucks and other vehicles marooned on both sides of the road for long hours.

And President Banda has disclosed that Western, Southern and North-western provinces have been severely affected by the excessive rains in which 15 districts are severely affected.

Mr. Banda told a press briefing at State House today, that government contracted Sable contractors to carryout emergency works to allow the flow of traffic.

He said this followed an on the spot assessment by a team led by Works and Supply minister, Mike Mulongoti and officials from the Road Development Agency, RDA.

He said government through the office of the Vice president’s Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit, DMMU, has been monitoring and assessing the impact of the excessive rainfall.

The president, further, said government has since dispatched another team led by deputy minister in the office of the Vice president, Guston Sichilima, Works and Supply deputy minister Mundia Ndalamei, Communication and Transport deputy minister Mubika Mubika and other senior government officials to the three worst hit districts in Western province.

Mr. Banda added that two bailey bridges have been dispatched to Shang’ombo district as part of the efforts to ensure that the area is re-connected to the rest of the country.

He said government has already received 30 more bailey bridges from China for the on-going works on the Kalabo-Mongu road.

He commended Sable Contractors for quickly working round the clock to ensure that the road that connects Zambia to the rest of Southern Africa is re-connected before permanent works are done.

Meanwhile, President Banda has directed the defense forces to mobilize and support the disaster management’s efforts throughout the country.

He has, further, directed them to be on standby as government continues receiving reports on floods from the districts.

The President has assured Zambians that government will continue monitoring the situation and the nation will be kept informed on the developments.

He noted that if the rains continue, it will cause widespread damage to infrastructure in other parts of the country.

In the last few weeks the country has been experiencing unprecedented levels of rainfall, which has led to floods and damage to road and other infrastructure across the country.

Government’s assessment indicates that most parts of the country have been severely affected including Western, Southern and North-western provinces in which 15 districts have been severely affected.

ZANIS/JT/ENDS/SJK