Ministry of Transport and Public Works says it is sourcing funds locally to continue with the construction of the 53-kilometre (km) Jenda-Edingeni Road after it failed to secure funds from outside sources.
A project brief indicates that works will involve upgrading of the 15km stretch from Chindoka to Embangweni and the construction of an 80-metre-long Lwasozi Bridge and several drainage structures.
Roads Authority (RA) spokesperson Portia Kajanga on Wednesday said that a contractor, China Railway No. 5 Engineering Company Limited, has been deployed and is mobilising equipment to start civil works.
She also confirmed that government would fund Phase II of the project which will cover a stretch from Chindoka to Embangweni and not to Edingeni as earlier announced.
The works in Phase II are expected to cost government about K6.7 billion while the first phase cost about K3.9 billion after it was revised from the initial K2.3 billion following changes in the design of the bridge.
However, Kajanga said government is hoping that the Abu Dhabi Fund will assist in the construction of the 23km from Embangweni to Edingeni.
Edingeni Ward councillor James Phiri appealed to government to complete the road as promised saying people in the area are suffering in various ways because of the bad shape of the road.
“We can’t take our produce to the markets. Farmers are not benefiting from their sweat. It is also a challenge for people to get to the hospital,” he said.
The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development funded phase one of the project.
