Preliminary construction, rehabilitation, and upgrading of the Katete- Chanida road works at a cost of US$79.8 Million have commenced.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS, Katete District Commissioner, Raphael Phiri disclosed that the preliminary works are in preparation for a possible official launch.
“They are just doing preliminary works to set the ground and this is in preparation for a possible official launch by the President, so that he may find that there are some works that have started,” he said.
Mr Phiri further explained that currently, the project has recruited few workers to carry out the preliminary works.
“The desire of everybody, especially the government, is that most of the workers must be Katete-Chadiza based. And the contractor has said at the moment they have not employed many people but just a few technical staff. Recruitment of people has not started,” he said.
Meanwhile, David Banda a Katete resident expressed happiness at the works stating that it will increase trade between Zambia and Mozambique.
“It is a good development for us Zambians because it is a road that links two countries, Zambia and Mozambique so it is a very busy border; there are a lot of trucks using this road. I am also happy to see that us youths we will find employment from this road,” he said.
And a youth, Gabriel Mvula said the long-awaited works will enable for easy and quick movement of farm produce from the farms to where markets are.
“We are happy with the works that have commenced because we have been waiting for it for a long time. We are also happy that it will bring development in our country and at district level.
Us as farmers will find livelihood in our farming. It used to be difficult for us to move our produce from our farms to towns where markets are,” he said.
Mr Mvula further appealed to residents in the district to cooperate with the contractor as he executes his duties.
“My appeal is that we as Katete residents let us work together with the contractor working on the road because we have waited for it for a long time,” he said.
And Madalitso Ngo’mbe, a driver, appealed to the contractor to set up road signs to help road users easily navigate the road.
“I am grateful for the work that has started. The only problem we have is that there is no signage for us road users to know where the detour is or where the road has been closed,” he said.
