Govt to source KR 1.5 million for bridge repair works in Luanshya
Ndola, March 3, 2013, ZANIS — Government says it will expedite the release of KR1.5 million to work on the dam, bridge and road leading to Chilabula village which has been cut off from the rest of the country in Luanshya District.
And Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), Copperbelt Region Coordinator Edwin Muyunda says the KR 1.5 million was required to fix the dam and work on the damaged road and washed away bridge.
Deputy Minister in the office of the Vice President Harry Kalaba says the funds will go towards the repair and maintenance works of the damaged infrastructure in the area.
ZANIS reports that Deputy Minister said this in Luanshya yesterday.
This was when he checked on the extent of the damage caused by the bust dam in Roan constituency.
The Village in question was cut off when the dam bust both the road and bridge leading up to the area.
The Minister said the dam needed to be fixed quickly for the bridge and the road to be worked on adding that working on the bridge without fixing the dam would be as good as not doing any work.
Mr. Kalaba said the Patriotic Front ( PF) government campaigned on the premise of service delivery to the people and that as PF they would work in order to fulfill its campaign promises.
“As PF, we campaigned on service delivery to the people, we are not just a talking government but we will walk the talk so we will ensure that the people of Luanshya are given the support they need,” Mr KALABA said.
Briefing the Minister in Luanshya, Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), Copperbelt Region Coordinator Edwin Muyunda said about KR 1.5 million was required to fix the dam and work on the damaged road and washed away bridge.
Mr. MUYUNDA said what used to be a road had turned into a stream and that people of Chilabula village in Roan constituency had been cut off from the rest of the country.
He said the dam had been damaged for two years now and that people subjected to use a make shift bridge to cross at the washed away bridge.
And Chilabula ward councilor, HARRISON BANDA said the ward had a population of about 3000 people, a school, clinic and a Food Reserve Agency Depot.
Mr. BANDA explained that teachers and medical personnel who lived in Roan and Mikomfya respectively had abandoned their work in Chilabula, as they could not access the area due to the problem of the washed away bridge.
The civic leader said it was difficult for farmers in the area to transport their produce to market as the bridge and the road were damaged.
He said people of Chilabula would be happy if government assisted them by fixing the dam which was the cause of the problem.