By 
Infrastructure, Housing, and Urban Development Minister Charles Milupi has directed the newly inducted Road Development Agency (RDA) Board to prioritize dismantling road sector debt and implementing sustainable financing strategies.
Speaking during the Board’s induction in Lusaka on Monday, Milupi acknowledged that the mounting debt burden posed a significant challenge to delivering critical road projects across the country.
He urged the Board to work closely with the Ministry of Finance and National Planning and other road sector agencies to address the issue.
“The new Board is expected to settle in promptly and begin its duties without delay, ensuring the efficient delivery of road infrastructure, which is crucial to the government’s transformation agenda,” Milupi said.
The Minister called on Board members to uphold high standards of accountability and integrity in managing taxpayer funds and public assets.
He also stated the importance of fully implementing the subcontracting policy to enable more local contractors to handle major road projects.
“Aligning with President Hakainde Hichilema’s directives, the Board must ensure that construction projects are procured at the right price, meet the highest quality standards, and are delivered on time,” Milupi stressed.
He outlined key expectations, including the development of a Three-Year Plan focusing on rehabilitating trunk roads, improving district connectivity, and initiating new road links to ease travel nationwide.
Milupi further directed the Board to establish new standards for roads and bridges within six months to address climate change challenges, such as damage caused by flooding.
RDA Board Chairperson Engineer, Yogesh Kuntawala, expressed gratitude for the confidence placed in the new Board.
He affirmed their commitment to enhancing road and bridge infrastructure delivery through innovative strategies.
“We will collaborate with stakeholders to identify sustainable financing solutions to maintain a motorable road network, which is critical for socio-economic development,” Kuntawala said.
He highlighted the importance of leveraging Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to prioritize economically viable road links requiring urgent attention.
Kuntawala also pledged to work with the National Council for Construction to build local contractor capacity, enabling them to manage large-scale road projects.
WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.
Comments