Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Minister, Hon. Eng. Charles Lubasi Miluipi has today commissioned the Kasombo and Malolwa ACROW Bridges in Kabompo District in North Western Province.
Hon. Eng. Milupi said it is pleasing to note that two more ACROW Bridges were being commissioned in Kabompo District not too long ago after the commissioning of a series of six ACROW Bridges in Zambezi District on 15th April 2024.
“This is indeed a remarkable development which is testimony to the commitment and determination by the New Dawn Government under the leadership of his Excellency, President Hakainde Hichilema to improve bridge and road infrastructure especially in the rural parts of the country,” Hon. Eng. Milupi said.
He added that exactly three weeks ago, his team was also in Northern Province, where it commissioned two ACROW Bridges in Lunte and Luwingu Districts on 22nd June 2024.
He said the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development through the Road Development Agency (RDA) is undertaking a programme under which it will construct and install 131 ACROW Bridges in seven Provinces.
A total of 33 crossing points have been identified for construction and installation of ACROW Bridges in North Western Province. The completion of works at Kasombo and Malolwa now brings the cumulative number of ACROW Bridges constructed in North Western Province to eight.
Hon. Eng. Milupi said the remaining 27 bridges in the Province would be constructed and installed within the shortest possible time in order to ease connectivity for the people.
The Kasombo ACROW Bridge has been constructed at a contract sum of K7,987,878.56, while the Malolwa ACROW Bridge has been constructed at a cost of K6,470,195.76. Works on Kalwilo ACROW Bridge at a contract sum of K9,938,927.92 are ongoing, and physical progress is at over 25 percent.
Defence Minister Hon. Ambrose Lwiji Lufuma said it used to take five hours to drive from Kabompo CBD to Kasombo, a stretch of about 119 kilometres and during the rainy season, the road was impassable because of non-availability of the bridge.
Hon. Lufuma, who is also Kabompo Member of Parliament said this would change and was happy that the area which had great potential in mining and agricultural activities had been opened up for business.
Hon. Lufuma said that after the completion of the Kasombo ACROW Bridge access had been enhanced, and this would facilitate the transportation of building materials for the construction of a school in the area.
He said that during the construction phase of Kasombo ACROW Bridge, 39 local people were employed.
North-Western Province Minister Hon. Robert Lihefu was happy that several road and bridge projects were being undertaken in the Province, thereby connecting it to the Democratic Republic of Congo and other parts of the country.
RDA Board of Directors Chairperson Eng. Mulchand Kuntawala said the Agency engaged the Zambia National Service (ZNS) for the construction of the substructures, assembly, and launching of prefabricated ACROW Bridge panels on the Kasombo, Malolwa and Kalwilo Bridges in Kabompo District.
Eng. Kuntawala said the works commenced in the second quarter of 2023 and have been completed at Kasombo and Malolwa.
He said one of the major challenges encountered while undertaking works on the ACROW Bridge programme in Kabompo District is access to the respective project sites, which has been extremely difficult.
He said the primary feeder roads are in a poor state, and the soil type or terrain is sandy and best accessed using 4×4 vehicles or those with a higher specification such as military trucks.
Eng. Kuntawala said now that the bridges had been constructed and installed efforts will be directed towards rehabilitating the roads once resources are secured.
“This will be done in order to enhance connectivity and accessibility to markets and farming areas by our citizens in these far-flung areas. The Board and Management of the RDA would like to assure the Government of our unwavering commitment and dedication to successfully implement the ACROW Bridge programme across the country, which when fully executed over a period of time, will result in the construction and installation of 131 ACROW Bridges over various water bodies across the country.
“We also remain resolute in ensuring that all road and bridge projects being implemented by the RDA countrywide are of the right price, to the specified quality and delivered timely,” he said.
Zambia National Service (ZNS) Deputy Commander Maj. Gen Reuben Mwewa said the ZNS would remain committed and professional in the execution of projects despite the harsh terrains whenever called upon to do so.
