Traveling through the Solwezi – Chingola Road now has become a terrible option to those that have used the road recently.
With three major mines in Solwezi and Kalumbila Districts, one still wonders why the road still remains unattended to despite having three contractors on the same project.
Road Pave, China Geo and Buildcon are the three contractors trying out their muscles to make the road more useful than it is now. However it is disappointing to note that 4 years down the line after the project started, the developments taking place on the road are at a snails pace.
What is more shocking is that a journey to Solwezi from Chingola that took a maximum of 2hour 30 minutes now takes a maximum of 5 hours using public transport.
What is shocking is that despite Lucky Mulusa hailing from the Province, he has not taken advantage of his position to help speed up the works like he has done in other districts.
It was under Steven Masumba, Nathaniel Mubukwanu, Dawson Kafwaya and now Danny Chingimbu as provincial Ministers, there is still nothing to write home about.
Despite the claims of the town being the New Copperbelt! There is nothing close to that as the actual Copperbelt that has massively benefited from government’s road projects.
The Mines in the two Districts are the largest Copper Producers in the country but still no one bothers to have the road improved to better standards.
“It is a death trap, driving through the road put me under serious fear as to whether I would be home alive or not, the road is too bumpy” one of the travelers said.
“Its the issue of commitment, the Kitwe-Ndola dual carriage way and Kitwe-Chingola dual carriage way, how long have they taken? You can still see progress within 2 years, but for Solwezi after four years,the only difference is creation of detour roads and drainages and what is that!” He added.
Economic Activities in Solwezi have been delayed due to the slow pace at which the contractors are working on the road.
Politicizing the construction of the Solwezi-Chingola Road will be the worst thing government would be making as the current situation puts the ruling party at a risk of losing votes.
Lucky Mulusa the former Solwezi Central Member of Parliament protested in 2012 by taking a walk from Chingola to Solwezi accompanied by Former Transport and Communications Minister Sarah Sayifwanda due to the poor state of the road.
However, what is shocking is that despite Mulusa hailing from the Province, he has not taken advantage of his position to help speed up the works like he has done in other districts.
Government needs to urgently wake up and sort the Solwezi Chingola Road to maximize economic benefits to the national treasury.
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