THE Road Development Agency (RDA) has acquired equipment under the Pave Zambia Project valued at KR65 million (K65 billion), chief executive officer Bernard Chiwala has said.

Mr Chiwala said the equipment, which was stationed at the RDA yard in Lusaka, arrived in the country last week and it would soon be distributed to the 10 provinces.

He was speaking in Livingstone at the weekend at Zambezi Sun Hotel during the meeting for the national and local organising committees for the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly.

Mr Chiwala said quarries were available for the Pave Zambia Project.

He said about 20 per cent of the road works had been done in the selected parts of Livingstone before the UNWTO conference.

Mr Chiwala said the main Mosi-Oa-Tunya Road in Livingstone would be upgraded and ready for handover by July 31, this year.

He said preliminary works such as the testing of samples on the Mosi-Oa-Tunya Road had already been done.

Mr Chiwala was responding to Chief Mukuni of Kazungula District in Southern Province who observed that the ripping-off of roads in Livingstone was posing challenges to tourists due to a lot of dust emissions.

National Airports Corporation Limited (NACL) managing director Robison Misitala said his organisation had acquired new fire tenders with 20,000 litre water capacity, while ambulances would be brought to Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport to beef up emergency services.

Mr Misitala said the new terminal building at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport would be completed by May, this year.

Local Government and Housing Permanent Secretary Bernard Namachila said his ministry had acquired new fire tenders for the Livingstone City Council to beef up emergency service during the UNWTO General Assembly.