Chingola roads an eyesore

The residents of Chingola are annoyed with the appalling status of Chingola roads. The residents who stormed Chingola office yesterday complained that roads in Chingola were an eyesore and abhorrence to motorists and pedestrians. Led by Patriotic Front Sekela ward chairperson Evans Kalonge the residents said Roads had literally moved from deterioration to none existence. Mr Kalonge said the next generation would fail to differentiate a good road from the bush paths that exist in the district. He said it was not a mockery on anyone that expectant mothers opted to walk than be driven on the Chingola roads that could lead to an embarrassment of delivering on the bus or experience premature delivery. Mr Kalolnge feels it was pertinent that the people manning the Roads Development Agency must move beyond politics and stop giving contracts to contractors who had a poor record with RDA. “Need I remind anyone that roads are crucial for all of our economic system, and much of the donor money the country receives, fail to be channelled towards the roads to ensure our roads are in tip-top shape. “The known fact is that better roads lead to more money as there is a strong link between good roads and food security, between good roads and good medical system, security, mention them if you want wish,” he said. He said with good roads transporters also quickly moved from one destination to the other hence making money and the business communities quickly move from one point to another. He said it was horrendous and if one was driving there was need of being constantly aware of obstacles and sometimes huge potholes. Stakeholders are also irked by the road network and the latest to join are clerics from different church organisations who formed the Nchanga Constituency Churches Forum (NCCF). The NCCF spokesperson Micky Kamuwanga said it was disheartening for one to drive on almost impassable pot holed roads. Dr Kamuwanga said Government was conspicuously silent and apparently stratified with the current scenario. “Even if the cost is much, is it not worth it? Every minister knows too well how good roads are important to the economy, apart from the fact that they will beautify the town,” he said. He said the country was over with politics and it is now time to get to the ground and do the job. Dr Kanuwanga said Chingola does not just need a promise to declare that the roads shall be done but also to really carry it out and make sure that the roads in the district were put in good conditions for the well being of the people in the district. And Nchanga Member of Parliament Wylbur Simusa said what had affected Chingola been awarding contracts to companies that had no capacity to do the roads. Mr Simuusa said it was time the country invested in good road infrastructure and the benefits would be many, and long-lasting. He feels his constituency could have better roads because his area accounts for 65 per cent of the total copper export, the largest open pit in Africa and second largest in the world, safest underground in the world and the largest smelter in Africa. He said the glaring fact was that there was no good road in Chingola and the town was better than a ghost town. “For this cause alone, the district wears the face of a village paths fit for transportation of animals from the kraal to the abattoir. “During rainy season, every pothole is full with water, trekkers, cyclists, motorcyclists and motorists get dirty with mud splash while moving around,” he said