RDA Allocates Over K4.8 billion For Livingstone-Sesheke and Chipata-Lundazi Road Upgrades

The long-awaited rehabilitation of the Livingstone-Sesheke Road is set to begin after the Road Development Agency (RDA) awarded contracts worth more than K3.2 billion to upgrade the key highway.

The project is expected to improve connectivity along one of Zambia’s busiest tourism and trade routes while also enhancing road infrastructure in Livingstone, Sesheke, Kazungula and Mwandi districts.

According to a statement from RDA chief communications and corporate affairs manager Anthony Mulowa, the 212-kilometre M10 Road rehabilitation project has been awarded to Sino-Hydro Corporation Limited in partnership with Nchifar Enterprises Limited.

The works have been divided into two sections to ensure efficient implementation.

The first contract, valued at K1.54 billion, will cover the rehabilitation of sections of the road between Livingstone and the Kazungula Turn-off, as well as the stretch from near Simungoma Turn-off to Sesheke Boma. The project will also include the upgrading of 10 kilometres of township roads in Livingstone and five kilometres in Sesheke.

The second contract, worth K1.74 billion, will focus on the remaining section of the highway towards Sesheke and the upgrading of five kilometres of township roads in both Kazungula and Mwandi districts to bituminous standard.

Mr Mulowa said the RDA had already handed over the sites and issued commencement instructions to the contractor.

“The contractor has started the design phase and is currently mobilising equipment to the site in preparation for full-scale construction works,” he said.

He added that while preparations for the main rehabilitation works were underway, the RDA had deployed equipment through Mwandi Town Council to repair severely damaged sections of the road where heavy trucks have frequently become stranded.

Meanwhile, the agency has signed another major contract worth K1.6 billion with China Geo Engineering Corporation for the rehabilitation of the Chipata-Lundazi Road.

The project will also include the upgrading of five kilometres of urban roads each in Lumezi and Lundazi districts.

Mr Mulowa said the contractor had already moved to site and begun preliminary activities, with full construction expected to start once detailed designs are completed later this month.