Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Minister, Hon. Eng. Charles Milupi says an ACROW bridge will be installed at Chiwena point where two culverts were partially washed away on the Landless Corner to Mumbwa Road in Central Province. Eng. Milupi said this after he carried out an on-the-spot inspection at the washed-away section of the road. The Minister who was leading a delegation that included Green Economy and Environment Minister, Hon. Eng. Collins Nzovu, said the installation of the temporal bridge and reopening of the road would be done within 14 days. “We are here and our plan of action is that we install an ACROW bridge to allow traffic to flow as a remedial measure but after the rainy season permanent works will be done. We are sure that works will be carried out according to the plan of action we have set out because we are using all our available resources, “Eng. Milupi said. He said President Hakainde Hichilema has instructed that in times of emergency in the country all available national resources and expertise should be called upon. Hon. Milupi was accompanied by Hon. Nzovu who is also Nangoma Member of Parliament, Road Development Agency (RDA) Board of Directors Chairperson, Eng. Mulchand Kuntawala, RDA Acting Director and Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Grace Mutembo, Disaster Management, Mitigation Unit (DMMU) National Coordinator Dr. Gabriel Pollen and Zambia National Service (ZNS) Chief Land Development Branch, Brigadier General Jephan Mukanda.He said the members of his delegation show the multi-sectoral approach that the government is taking to find solutions to any emergencies in the country. And Eng. Milupi said there is a need to refocus and put into consideration issues of climate change when designing and putting up infrastructure in the country. The affected point is approximately 25 kilometers from the Mumbwa roundabout and 90 kilometers from the Landless Corner junction. Hon. Eng. Nzovu said climate change was real and was causing havoc to infrastructure. He said it was for this reason that his Ministry is aggressively discouraging deforestation. Hon. Eng. Nzovu said the situation was made worse because of increased deforestation. He also reiterated that any emergency in the country will be well faced with a collection of all the available technical expertise in the country. MIHUD/PR.
