Government extends contract period for Great East road works

Government has awarded an extension to the contract period of the 168.7 million Euros reconstruction works of the Great East road.
Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo says the works on the 375 kilometre stretch from Luangwa Bridge to Mwami border which were scheduled for completion in December last year will be completed in July this year.
Mr Kasolo says the reconstruction works by Condril and Mota Engil construction companies were delayed at an initial stage due to problems in sourcing materials such as crushed stones, labour and the rains.
He says that the extension of the project will not attract any extra costs because the extension has not been caused by RDA, the Road Development Agency or government.
Mr. Kasolo however, noted that it is important for people not to disturb the two contractors from carrying out their works because it may attract extra costs.
He has pointed out that Chipata Municipal Council should not be forced to use the police to remove Illegal Street vendors trading along Umodzi Highway as any extra money that government will pay the contractor is a loss to Zambians.
The road project is co-financed by the European Union EU through the European Development Fund EDF and the European Investment Bank EIB, the French Agency for Development AFD and the African Development Bank.