Concerns Rise Over The Lusaka-Ndola Dual Carriage Project

Trevor Simumba, a Zambian trade and business consultant has advised Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe to suspend the Lusaka-Ndola dual carriageway project due to concerns over the inflated costs.

The consultant has called for a detailed review into the costs of the project and find a new Public Private Project contractor to take over.

“If contractor does not cooperate cancel the contract and report them to ACC for investigation. This is pure theft. Someone in Government is involved because to justify $1.2 billion for a 321 km road is purely criminal,’ Mr Simumba said.

He added, “As I said consistently the costs of this road were way above normal. Madam Minister suspend this project, conduct detailed review of costs and get a new PPP contractor. It’s clear these guys are thieves and colluded with some officials to steal from Zambians. Enough is enough.”

Mrs. Mwanakatwe this week charged that the Lusaka-Ndola dual carriageway, widely-reported to cost US $1.2 billion, is not a true figure.

She disputed the Lusaka-Ndola dual carriageway as costing US $1.2 billion, after indicating that government intended to revise the Public and Private Partnership Act in Parliament to make it more response to the country’s developmental needs.

Mrs. Mwanakatwe said this during the Zambia-South Africa Business Council Meeting on Wednesday.