THE OPPOSITION IS DELUSIONAL OVER THE DUAL CARRIAGEWAY – UPND
March 2, 2023
LUSAKA – The UPND says it is concerned with the high levels of misinformation in relation to the recently signed concession agreement on the construction of the Lusaka – Ndola dual carriageway between Government and Macro Ocean Investment Limited and the revenue realized from the toll fees.
Political consultant in the office of the Secretary General Mark Simuuwe has dispelled insinuations that the contractor will collect all revenue realized from the toll-gates for 22 years.
Mr. Simuuwe explained that the realized revenue shall during the 22-year concession period be shared between the government of the republic of Zambia and the engaged contractor as he advised the opposition and its surrogates to avoid pushing a wrong narrative as it has the potential to harm the economy.
“All of us must agree that government has had no capacity to do a road of such magnitude amid a serious debt which the previous government struggled to negotiate.
The PF should not pretend that they had capacity to construct the dual carriageway because economic realities also came into reality to put up that road”, Simuuwe said.
He further intimated that the PF intended to borrow US$2 billion to work on the same road but changed their mind after being criticized that the money was too much and later renegotiated downwards US$1.250 billion.
He said the New Dawn Administration believes in prudence in its fiscal management hence renegotiating the contract sum further down to US$577 million in line with its campaign promises in view of the country’s debt position and economic fragility.
Mr. Simuuwe said the New Dawn Administration understands the economic importance of the road which serves as the main link between the main Copper producing regions of the Copperbelt and North western provinces and the sea hence its resolve to work on it in the midst of competing socio-economic needs.
He revealed that it would be folly for the UPND and its government to allow a contractor get all the revenue realized from the toll fees for 22 years at the expense of national development as he assured citizens to retain the faith in the government as it works at stabilizing the economy.
Mr. Simuuwe said the country will be availed with details on how proceeds from the toll fees will be shared once the 36-month project is completed with anticipated increased traffic flow and reduced road fatalities.
(C) THE FALCON