The communities of Kongola and Judea Lyaboloma constituencies in the Zambezi region have been urged to work closely with consultants appointed to oversee the rehabilitation of a 22-kilometre stretch of the Kongola-Mulangu road.

The Roads Authority has appointed Pregon Consulting Engineers, together with Dunamis Consulting Engineers, to undertake the design, bid documentation, contract administration and site supervision for the project.

Speaking during a community consultation event in Kongola, Zambezi Governor Dorothy Kabula highlighted the importance of the road, which carries significant traffic, including trucks travelling through the Katima Mulilo border to Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Angola.

“Because the road which is coming is our road, they will come and build this road, but they will leave it with us. Therefore, it is up to us to cooperate with our consultants and anybody who is here.”

Kabula thanked the government for undertaking the project, saying the road is an important route that contributes to the country's economic development.

She, however, called on the government to consider extending the rehabilitation beyond the planned 22-kilometre stretch, particularly towards Katima Mulilo, due to increasing traffic along the route.

The councillor for Judea Lyaboloma constituency, Vincent Sinalumbu, suggested closer consultation between the project consultants and the regional council before boreholes are drilled for construction purposes.

He said infrastructure established during the project could potentially be left for community use after completion, making proper planning essential.

“History has taught us that sometimes contractors drill boreholes just in the wilderness. Once they are done, that borehole which was going to be used by locals is closed. So engage us before you drill, so that we can also engage our planning department.”

The rehabilitation follows concerns that continued patching of the road is no longer a sustainable solution.

The project is expected to take 18 months and will be implemented in six phases, pending the completion of the environmental impact assessment.

Community members also raised concerns over the temporary use of alternative gravel roads and existing borrow pits, urging the consultants to make use of existing facilities where possible to avoid delays associated with establishing new ones.