Construction of Mutanda – Kasempa – Kaoma road starts
President Hakainde Hichilema says good infrastructure, roads in particular, open up areas for investment and for development.
He said this during the ground-breaking event for construction of Mutanda – Kasempa – Kaoma road in Kasempa today.
On December 1, 2024, Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane, who is public private partnership (PPP) council chairperson, led other members of the council – including Minister of Education Douglas Syakalima and his counterpart at labour and social security Brenda Tambatamba – at the signing of the concession agreement for the PPP Mutanda – Kasempa – Kaoma road in Kasempa.
The 371 kilometres Mutanda-Kasempa-Kaoma Road is a shortcut into Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), especially for trucks from Walvis Bay, Namibia.
The New Dawn government has been emphatic on the need for Zambia to have high-class road connectivity, an enabler for trade in and outside the country.
With technical support from First Quantum Minerals (FQM), Barotse Highway Limited (BHL), a new firm, is the concessionaire and will design, finance, construct and operate Mutanda-Kasempa-Kaoma Road under a 25-year concession (two years of construction and 23 years for operation and maintenance.)
The road construction will be financed and undertaken by BHL at an estimated cost of US$326, 401, 330.
President Hichilema said during his 15-year period in the opposition, from 2006 to 2021, he saw the potential of Zambia.
“I saw what we could achieve if we opened up infrastructure and attracted investment. I could see what this would mean to our economy.
“One of the components of our vision about infrastructure was the Mutanda – Kasempa – Kaoma road. It means a lot for mining and agricultural investments,” President Hichilema said.
He said once completed, Mutanda – Kasempa – Kaoma road will enliven so many ordinary people who live near it.
“The people of Mutanda, Ingwe, Kaimbwe, Nselauke, Dengwe, Kamusongolwa, Kikonkomene, Kalombe, Nchenga and others will be happy,” he said.
The President added that when a leader loves the people, “you work for them day and night.”
“Even when we found no money in the treasury, we said ‘because of our love for our people, we will find solutions to do the roads, including Mutanda – Kasempa – Kaoma.’
“What I ask the people of North-Western Province is that let’s continue walking this journey. We are on a journey from 1997 – not 1998 – when UPND was formed here in North-Western Province. We are on a journey of development,” said President Hichilema.