$6.1 million Buyantashi Transportation Channel launched.

By Jonas Miselo

The Minister of Green Economy and Environment Collins Nzovu unveiled the official launch of the dredging and excavation works for the Buyantashi Transportation Channel in Lunga District of Luapula Province.

The works on the channel have been funded by the World Bank-funded Transforming Landscapes for Resilience and Development (TRALARD) Project and represent a significant step toward enhancing transportation infrastructure within the district.

During a speech read on his behalf by his Permanent Secretary Dr. Douty Chibamba in Lunga district, the Minister underscored the vital importance of the transportation channels in Lunga District, referring to them as the district's lifeblood.

He stated, "These channels play a pivotal role in facilitating the movement of people, commerce, goods, and services, aligning perfectly with President Hakainde Hichilema's vision of extending development across all corners of Zambia.”

The TRALARD Project, with support from the World Bank, has already made remarkable progress in Lunga District. On August 29, 2022, the Minister noted, "Thedredging and excavation works commenced on the Chinsaka-Mponda, Bwalya Mponda to Nsamba, and Kasoma lunga to Nsamba channels, covering a total distance of 76kilometers. Remarkably, these works have been completed an impressive four months ahead of schedule, all within the contract sum of US$ 8,884,832.02, inclusive of VAT.”

The Minister noted that "today's event signifies the initiation of the39-kilometer Buyantashi channel project, contracted at a total sum of US$ 6.1million, with an expected delivery period of six months."

He praised the contractor for adhering to the principles of timely delivery, budget adherence, and top-notch quality, and urged them to uphold these principles throughout the Buyantashi channel project.

The Minister pointed out that, for the people of Lunga, this development promised to remove "transportation bottlenecks that had long impeded the movement of goods to markets."

He explained that larger vessels could now access Lunga year-round, guaranteeing a consistent flow of goods and significantly reducing the threat of floods, which would enhance transportation for expectant mothers and patients referred toother hospitals.

He then called upon the Lunga Town Council to ensure the meticulous maintenance of these transportation channels and recommended investing in equipment to ensure their proper upkeep. He encouraged collaboration with the contractor for knowledge transfer and skills development, thereby enabling the council to independently manage maintenance after the contractor demobilizes.

The Minister also urged the supervising engineer to diligently oversee the project, ensuring that all work is executed strictly in accordance with the established designs and specifications.

To the World Bank, the Minister extended heartfelt thanks for their on going support and expressed anticipation for further collaboration, given the continued high demand for development, not only in Lunga and the greater Luapula region but across the entire nation.

And Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Mighty Mumba praised the World Bank for its financial support of the TRALARD Project. He noted the project's transformative impact on the lives of people in the five implementing districts of Lunga, Samfya, Chifunabuli, Kawambwa, and Nchelenge.

Mr. Mumba emphasized the positive and visible impact of the TRALARD Project, which has already expended approximately $19.4 million on a variety of projects, including community livelihood initiatives, infrastructure development, and the dredging of water channels in Lunga.

He praised the project as a game-changer in local communities, as it significantly enhances natural resource management, ultimately improving the livelihoods of the people.

Mr. Mumba called upon the government to consider expanding the project to include other districts within Luapula Province and appealed to the World Bank and the Ministry of Green Economy to secure additional funding to further enhance natural resource management and living standards for the region's residents.

Hethen appealed to the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment to extend the project to all districts of Luapula province.

And Luapula Provincial Water Affairs Officer Steven Sinkala said that the importance of the widening and deepening of the water channels cannot be understated.

“Lunga district has a lot of agricultural activities and in the absence of proper transportation channels the people cannot have a market, so the opening up of the channels will mean easier transportation of agricultural produce,” he said.

The launch of the Buyantashi Transportation Channel is a historic step toward advancing development in Lunga District and realizing the TRALARD Project's objectives of bringing improved infrastructure and economic opportunities to Lunga District and beyond.

NAIS.

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