HH Orders Faster Renovation of Maamba-Batoka Road to Support Construction of Energy Infrastructure

On Tuesday, President Hakainde Hichilema visited the construction site for the Maamba-Batoka Road in Southern Province. The road connects crucial mining, energy, and agriculture hubs, yet has not been resurfaced in several decades.

The President stressed the importance of this K1.1 billion project, which aims to hasten the expansion of the nearby Maamba Energy facility by allowing construction materials to be delivered at a faster pace. This expansion will increase the facility’s capacity from 300 to 600 megawatts, thereby giving the people of Southern Province a more reliable supply of electricity.

“We need this road made ready for Maamba Energy to pass their equipment which is needed to complete the 300 megawatts [expansion]. I am on site to make sure that we work on those areas quickly, so that the equipment passes and the power project is not delayed”, the President said.

He also welcomed that employment opportunities that these projects are bringing to Southern Province. This ensures that development is inclusive and brings with it opportunities to all of society.

“These people must be employed when there are opportunities for jobs here”, President Hichilema said. “On site, but also when the road is finished to work permanently, and at Maamba Energy. That is why we do projects, to benefit the national economy, but the local economy must also benefit through employment and different opportunities”.

The UPND government has a strong record on road resurfacing, a crucial part of its ambition to better connect Zambia and facilitate the smooth movement of goods, services, and people.

Earlier this week, Infrastructure Minister Charles Milupi shared some of the feedback he has received on these new roads: “without exception they are being admired. Go to Chingola to Kasumbalesa, speak to drivers on that road. Go to Chinsali to Isoka, this is a road that has been done in our time, people are admiring that road. Go to Limulunga, people are admiring that road, it is of high quality”.

Crucially, he noted that these resurfacing projects are being achieved at a lower cost than under the previous government.