Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane says the government remains resolute in improving the road infrastructure to enable citizen’s trade with neighbouring countries without any challenges.

Dr Situmbeko cited the Solwezi Kipushi border road as one of the major economic roads that the government wants to construct to open up trade between Zambia and Congo DR.

He said this during the signing of a concession agreement between government and Borderway Capital investment Ltd under the public private partnership to tar the 111 kilometers Solwezi-kipushi border road.

“This Solwezi Kipushi road has been a problem talked about by the previous governments for many years,but today we have gathered here that the road will be fixed under the new dawn government, ” he said.

Dr Musokotwane has called on the local people to reposition themselves for the economic boom  that will come as a result of having a good road network and tap into many business opportunities to improve their lives.

“You can build lodges because the people will be getting tired and need to rest, so starting applying for money from CDF and invest in such projects, put up fuel service stations because people that will be coming here will need those services, so this is not just the road but it means well for you it will bring wealth and businesses for you, it will bring livelihoods, ” He said.

Dr Situmbeko has since urged the concessionaire to commence the works soon to the expectations of both the government and the local people.

“Once this road is done you will no longer drive for more than four hours and get stuck on the road to get to the border, it will be one hour you are there,” he said.

He has since appealed to the concessionaire to employ the local people, adding that it is government’s policy that such capital investments uplifts the lives of the people along the project area.

He has since directed the Road Development Agency (RDA) to work with the PPP unit at the Ministry of Finance and National Planning to ensure that the concessionaire complies with the government policy on local content.

And Minister of Infrastructure and Urban Development Charles Milupi, said the signing agreement signifies yet another milestone in the country’s infrastructure development as the government desires to promote PPP projects such as this one.

Borderway Capital Chairperson Qiong Xu thanked the government through the Ministry of Infrastructure for the partnership and commitment to the project.

Northwestern Province Minister Robert Lihefu and the Traditional leaders in Mushindamo district expressed happiness to President Hakainde Hichilema for the many developmental projects taking place in the region.

In addition to the 111 kilometres road works,10 kilometers of the township roads will be worked on in Mushindamo and Solwezi districts.