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Transport, Works Supply & Communications
HOUSING
Housing has been declared a priority sector by the
government in recognition of the fact that decent
housing and shelter is a basic human need, and that
home ownership is a form of wealth creation. Rapid
population growth combined with rural-urban migra-
tion has resulted in a greater demand for housing,
particularly in Lusaka.
Some success has been achieved through the Na-
tional Housing Authority (NHA), which has helped
with development schemes of the Kabwata Estates,
the Woodlands Extension, the Nyumba Yanga, and
in the Copperbelt, executive, high, medium, and low
cost housing has been achieved. The NHA is also
involved in the upgrading of unplanned settlements,
employment creation for unskilled as well as skilled
labour in the construction-related areas of engineer-
ing, architecture, surveying, and the promotion of lo-
cal building materials and technology. However, the
existing housing deficit is too large for the state to
deal with alone. There is a need to integrate govern-
ment and private sector efforts, which, via PPP initia-
tives is something that is becoming a reality.
The NHA is presently restructuring its operations to in-
crease access to affordable accommodation for Zam-
bians, through the launch of new services and prod-
ucts at the end of 2010, aimed at encouraging home
ownership. These include a housing scheme for Zam-
bians working abroad, known as the Diaspora Hous-
ing Scheme, the Fast Track Construction Scheme,
which uses new building technology to reduce the cost
of projects as well as the construction time-frame.
BRIDGE / PONTOON PROGRAMMES
During the Second Quarter of 2010, the government
continued their programme of focusing on the con-
struction of bridges. In this regard, the construction
of 3 bridges in the Nansanga Farm Block in Central
Province, namely Luombwa, Ifuna and Nyamanda at
a cost of K14 Billion are well on their way to comple-
tion. The construction of these bridges will enhance
agricultural activities and agricultural transportation by
providing vital links to the roads throughout the area.
The government under the same period of time had
also completed the construction and reinstatement
of priority river crossings, which included 30 struc-
tures in Luapula Province, 34 structures in Northern
Province and 39 structures in 4 National Parks. The
financing for these projects was obtained from the
World Bank, while 29 structures in North-Western
Province and 83 structures in Eastern Province have
also received Budget support from the World Bank
as well.
The government is currently in the process of pro-
curing contracts for the construction of the Chiawa
Bridge spanning the Kafue River in Southern Prov-
ince, the Mufuchani Bridge across the Kafue River
in Kitwe, the Zambezi Bridge at Maziba in Senanga/
Shangombo Districts in Western Province, the Mbe-
suma Bridge on the Chambeshi River in Northern
Province, the Matumbo Bridge over the Luangwa
River in Eastern Province and a bridge at the Lufubu
River crossing in the Nsumbu National Park in Ka-
puta District of Northern Province.
To enhance the North-South Transport Corridor,
adequate progress has been made in the designing
of the Bridge and Border Facilities at Kazungula, of
which construction is expected to commence shortly.
A number of manual pontoons have been motorized,
however, the government is seeking to reduce the
number of pontoons across Zambian rivers, and
replace them with more bridges that are currently,
and planned to be, constructed with the availability
of adequate financial resources.
ROAD INFRUSTRUCTURE
In order to improve the state of Zambia’s road in-
frastructure, the government, with the help of the
international community and cooperating partners,
developed the Road Sector Investment Programme
(ROADSIP). At the beginning of ROADSIP Phase I
in 1997, less than 10 percent of the paved road net-
work was in good condition. The programme’s target
was to improve at least 50 percent of the paved road
network in the country to enhance road quality to
a “good” condition. At the completion of ROADSIP
I in 2002, this target had been exceeded, with 59
percent of paved roads becoming classified as be-
ing in “good condition”. ROADSIP Phase II will be
executed for the duration for the duration of 2005 to
2013, and presents many interesting business and
investment opportunities.
Government has invested heavily in the construction
and rehabilitation of roads across the country since
the inception of the Fifth National Development Plan
(FNDP), which runs from 2006 to 2010. While this
has seen the quality of arterial road infrastructure
improving markedly, much more needs to be done to
improve the road network, rural roads in particular.
The Needs Assessment Report for 2009 from the
Highway Management System had projected an an-