Dust emissions worry Kabwe residents

Dust emissions worry Kabwe residents

Kabwe, Apr 3/13 ZANIS————-Opposition Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) Central Province Chairperson, Fredrick Mulando, says the Zambia Environmental Management Agency’s [ZEMA] silence over the dust pollution in Kabwe town centre and residential areas is not only worrying but disappointing.

The dust pollution in Kabwe is caused from the road rehabilitation works that are going on.

Mr Mulando, who said this in a press statement released to ZANIS today, however, advised that the routine watering of these roads before tarring is done.

He said constant watering of the road before applying bitumen is the only feasible solution to what he described as an agitating health hazard.

Mr Mulando further stated that “We [residents] cannot continue being victims of rushed and unplanned road projects by government.”

Meanwhile, most concerned residents in Kabwe, who spoke to ZANIS and sought anonymity for fear of victimisation, agreed with Mr Mulando’s press statement.

“We welcome the prudent move by government to construct roads for us but if possible let relevant government authorities move in to ensure that these contractors –  Asphalt Roads Zambia [ARZ] Limited – consider and prioritise our health as well.” said the concerned residents.

Despite their welcoming statements, the residents complained about the unsuppressed dust emissions being caused by the on-going road works in the Central Business District (CBD) and respective residential areas.

They further lamented that they were afraid of suffering from the resulting dust emissions from the prevailing road construction works in the town.

“The contractors should be quick to do their works and consider the health of residents as the dust emissions from the gravelled roads are affecting us,” they lamented.

They further complained that it is indispensable to mention that Kabwe is a lead prone area, hence the ardent need for the contractors to be suppressing the dust emissions resulting from the on-going road works which is apparently affecting their business.

They described the road works being carried out by government through ARZ Limited as an open ended and long overdue project.

Last year, government gave a KR165 million contract to ARZ Limited to construct 34 kilometres of urban roads in Kabwe and Kapiri Mposhi and the works are underway but residents in Kabwe have notably raised concerns on the pace at which the contractor is moving at, describing it as very slow.