GOVERNMENT, through the Road Development Agency (RDA) has started inviting tenders for the upgrading to bituminous standard of about 74 kilometres of the Monze-Niko Road in Southern Province.

The tenders are open only to firms owned by Zambian citizens or at least 50.1 per cent shareholding of road works registered with the National Council for Construction.

This is according to the Invitation For Bids (IFB) tender placed in the Times of Zambia.

Director for procurement Keeta Shisholeka said Government, through the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) has provided funds to implement Phase One of the Link Zambia 8000 Road Project.

"The specific roads to be upgraded and rehabilitated have been identified, taking into account such aspects as connectivity through international and/or provincial linkages and poverty alleviation through job creation and enhanced agricultural/marketing activities," he said.

He said the Link Zambia 8000 programme, which was an initiative of Government was aimed at upgrading key roads connecting strategic towns within the country with eventual aim of turning Zambia into a truly land-linked country.

The projects also sought not only to promote accessibility and mobility among provinces and economic centres but to support Government's policy of decentralisation and creation of about 24,000 jobs, especially among youths.

Mr Shisholeka said the RDA procurement committee was now inviting sealed bids from eligible contractors for the upgrading of approximately 74 kilometres of the Monze-Niko Road to bituminous standard.

He said the scope of works would include bush clearing, construction of selected road embankment layers, gravelling of sub-base and cement stabilisation of gravel base layers.

Other works were double sealing wearing course surfacing extending over the shoulders, road markings and traffic signs, provision of guard rails and other auxiliary works, and installation of drainage structures.