The Times of Zambia (Ndola)

Zambia: Delay in Chama-Matumbo Road Works Riles President

By ANTHONY MULOWA, 6 December 2012

PRESIDENT Michael Sata yesterday refused to commission the construction of the 115-kilometre Chama-Matumbo Road, a link between Chinsali and Chama districts, because China Jiangxi has not commenced work despite being on site.

President Sata took to task Road Development Agency (RDA) chairperson Willie Nsanda and other officials on why the work had not started.

Visibly upset, Mr Sata said he was not in the area to "watch" road construction equipment, but was interested in seeing the actual construction work.

"I haven't seen anything. What have I come to see here, where is the road? I came to see the road and not vehicles...I came to see the road we have paid for.

"We have wasted taxpayers' money coming here from Lusaka. When I went to Shiwang'andu, I found a hydro-power station which I was called for, how about the road here?" he asked.

He had earlier inspected a portion of the site where the road would be constructed.

President Sata, who addressed the crowd which had gone to witness the commissioning of the road works, said Members of Parliament and Government ministers should work hard because they were elected to do so.

He said he would make an impromptu visit to the area to check on the road works.

"The next time I come here, I will not inform you that I am coming. I will just come straight here," he said.

President Sata was accompanied by first Republican President Kenneth Kaunda who sang his 'Tiyende Pamodzi' song much to the amusement of the crowd before the President spoke.

Earlier, Chief Chewe told the President that people in Muchinga Province were appreciative of the efforts by the Patriotic Front Government to develop the area.

He said people in Chinsali would rally behind President Sata and the Government to ensure that the development projects were accomplished.

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  • davieschipumba
    Dec 6 2012, 17:23
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    Yes, the President was right despite the Chinese mobilizing the equipments on the sit, they were suppose to start some Road works. How can for sure the President travel from state house for mayor seeing equipments, that's really Antietam to corruptions more especially that we need a corruption free nation both in public and private sector. And I wish the ACC to extend their supervision together with the labor ministry to private companies and see how workers are being mistreated. There is one case am watching with interest in COMACO involving four (4) workers on unlawful mistreatment.