The Government through the Road Development Agency (RDA)

has signed a Concession Agreement for the construction to bituminous standard the 371 kilometres Mutanda-Kasempa-Kaoma Road.

The signing ceremony took place today Kaunda Square in Kasempa District in North-Western Province.

Finance and National Planning Minister, Hon. Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, Road Development Agency (RDA) Acting Director and Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Jairos Mhango and Commerce, Trade and Industry Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Lillian Bwalya signed on behalf of the Government.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Minister, Hon. Eng. Charles Lubasi Milupi in a speech read on his behalf by Education Minister, Hon. Douglas Siakalima said the Government has embarked on the upgrade and reconstruction of key infrastructure facilities across the country.

“One of the key projects earmarked for construction is the Mutanda via Kasempa to Kaoma Road using the Public Private Partnership (PPP) financing model” he said.

He said the concession period is for 25 years, of which 2 years is for construction, while the remaining 23 years is for operation and maintenance by the Concessionaire.

The road will be financed and undertaken by Baroste Highway Limited (BHL) in partnership with First Quantum Minerals (FQM) at an estimated cost of US$ 326,401,330.98 and will be covered by private financing, alleviating the burden on the local economy, with financing repayment plan relying on the forecasted revenue generated from toll fees.

The general scope of the project entails the construction of 371 kilometers to bituminous standard road, double surface dressing from Mutanda via Kasempa to Kaoma. It also includes the construction of 20 kilometers of urban roads, 10 kilometers in Kasempa and 10 kilometers in Kaoma Districts, respectively.

Hon. Eng. Milupi said two new bridges will be constructed at Lalafuta Bridge and Luena Bridge in Kaoma, replacing the current existing ones.

He said in addition, three toll plazas will be constructed, one on the Kaoma-Kasempa Road and the other two between Kasempa and Mutanda Road. Two weighbridges will also be constructed along the road corridor.

The Concessionaire also intends to build social infrastructure along the road corridor, which may include schools, health posts, markets, and police stations/posts for the benefit of the local people.

The Mutanda to Kaoma Road forms a crucial corridor fostering the movement of goods within Zambia and connecting the region to Walvis Bay in Namibia

The road also complements the Lumwana to Kambimba and the just concessioned Solwezi to Kipushi Road project.

He said once the Mutanda to Kaoma Road is brought into a maintainable standard, it would facilitate traffic flow from Lumwana and Kipushi to Mutanda and from Mutanda to Walvis Bay, boosting regional trade and economic ties with neighboring countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).