THE Road Development Agency (RDA) has disclosed that construction works on the Nchelenge-Chienge Road in Luapula Province have reached 11 percent.

The road construction is a 100 percent government-funded project being undertaken at a total cost of K1.9 billion and is expected to be completed within three years.

The project is being carried out by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).

Speaking during an inspection in Nchelenge District last Thursday, RDA Chief Communications and Corporate Affairs Manager Anthony Mulowa said the road is a 95-kilometre stretch and works commenced in December 2025.

“The government of the Republic of Zambia through the Road Development Agency is undertaking projects using a two-pronged approach. We have what we call the public-private financing model, which we explored yesterday, and we also have projects funded directly from the Treasury through the Ministry of Finance and National Planning. So the Chienge Road via Mununga as well as Kashikishi is 100 percent funded by the government of the Republic of Zambia, and there are many such projects, but today we’ll just focus on what is happening here. This project is a 95-kilometre upgrading project from gravel to bituminous standard. The project cost is K1.9 billion, and the works commenced in December last year. The construction period is three years,” he said.

“You will note that December is a rainy season, so we didn’t do much. Our efforts were dedicated towards mobilisation, which we did, and during that period we also attended to some maintenance works just to allow motorists and the travelling public to traverse this stretch. From the time the rainy season ended, the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, has intensified the works. As you can see, we are currently at kilometre 29, and the physical progress for the entire project is at 11 percent, and our output is expected to go up”.

Mulowa assured that RDA was working round the clock to ensure connectivity and accessibility to various areas within the province.

“I want to mention that the Road Development Agency is working very hard to ensure that we create connectivity and accessibility to our various areas. We believe that Luapula Province has lagged behind, hence these interventions we are putting in place to open up Chienge and Nchelenge, connect a number of districts around this area and the province. We want to ensure that industry as well as agriculture thrives in this area. We want the people also to have the benefit of a good road network,” he said.

“We want to better the lives of the people in this area who are hardworking. You can see there’s a lot of trading activity and fishing activity. We believe that once this road is completed, we anticipate finishing this project on time, it will go a long way in helping people. You can see how difficult it is to traverse this area. Once the road is completed, a lot of industries and business opportunities will open up for the local people. We are happy to ensure that we do that”.

Mulowa said once the road is completed, it will change the outlook of Luapula Province, which is one of the poorest in the country.

He, however, expressed concern over the failure by motorcyclists to adhere to traffic regulations, saying this was compromising safety.

“Those of you who have followed the history of this country know that Luapula is considered one of the poorest provinces in Zambia. But trust me, with the coming of this project, this will be a game changer, so to speak, in terms of the outlook because once you bring connectivity and a good road, all these opportunities will come along and the people will benefit because we want to lower the cost of doing business,” said Mulowa.

“But as we are constructing this road, there is a great concern that has come to our attention, especially regarding these riders, the ones who ride bikes, who are not abiding by traffic regulations. Sometimes they disobey flaggers, which is not good for safety because they fail to see the essence of upgrading this road. We want to improve the safety of motorists as well as pedestrians so that they can use the road in a very constructive manner and be able to grow the area as well as Zambia’s economy, because this area has a lot of potential. We believe that this project, which has commenced, will go a long way in connecting Chienge and Nchelenge, which are very important districts in Luapula Province”.

Resident Engineer Robert Taruziva said the road was being upgraded to a 10.1-metre-wide tarred bituminous standard.

“Like from the former presentation, it’s a stretch of 95 kilometres. The existing road varied in width between five and seven metres and was a gravel road. So upgrading this road will entail widening it to 10.1 metres, and it will also be to BSI standard, which is tar and seal. The existing culvert structures were narrow since they accommodated only the seven-metre width. To effectively convey excess stormwater, especially given the high rainfall in this region, we have to protect the road pavement by putting in proper drainage structures. This scope will involve removing obsolete culvert structures, and in some places we will widen them,” he said.

Taruziva said the project has a “strong” local content component in line with RDA policy.

“Also, under this current scope, we intend to upskill local contractors because it is mandatory on any project funded by RDA. Twenty percent of the total project cost, which is K1.9 billion, we are planning to give it to local contractors so that in the near future, with enough support and financial discipline, and by tapping into the knowledge of the main contractor, they can stand on their own as main contractors,” he said.

Taruziva cited inadequate material sources in the first 10 kilometres of the road as the major challenge facing the project.

“In terms of implementing this project, the main challenge we are facing at the moment is the availability of gravel. From kilometre zero up to 10 kilometres, we do not have a proper borrow pit within reasonable hauling distances. For us to register enough progress in the earthworks, we have to mobilise beyond what is required in the contract. The contract provides for 15 tippers, but to achieve the progress we desire, we may end up doubling that amount so that we quicken the discharge of the milestones,” said Taruziva.

Meanwhile, CCECC Manager Zhang Pengxv said about 1,000 jobs would be created through the project.