THE government might have to fund the completion of the Mongu-Kalabo road project alone following some donors’ unwillingness to continue co-financing the undertaking.

And Ministry of Works and Supply permanent secretary Lieutenant Colonel Bizwayo Nkunika confirmed the above situation as true adding that the government had not yet crystallized the funding package to wrap up the project.

Meanwhile, the Road Development Agency (RDA) intends to undertake a feasibility study on two alternative routes that would divert the road project from its current course in view of the huge costs involved.

Sources revealed that the revised design on the controversial road project had been completed but that the government was still scouting for funds to complete the over 30-kilometre from Mongu to Tapo.

This is the section of the road that was extensively damaged by floods in Barotse Plains around 2005-2006, leading to a change of design.

According to sources, about K145 billion was spent on the road project before the design alteration and that funding was co-shared by Kuwait (33 per cent), BADEA (29.4 per cent), OPEC (27 per cent) and GRZ (10.6 per cent).

Sources said the donors were not willing to get back and continue funding the road project following the completion of the new design.

And Lt. Col Nkunika said in an interview that the government was still working out the funding package to cover the Mongu-Kalabo section.

“That is the package we have not finalised yet,” he said.

Asked on assertions that donors were not willing to continue funding the Mongu-Kalabo section but the Kalabo to Angola section of the stretch, Lt. Col Nkunika responded in the affirmative.

“That is true that is why I am saying we have not finished packaging the Mongu-Kalabo,” he said. “For Kalabo-Sikongo, we have found willing cooperating partners who are looking at that section.”

Meanwhile, RDA head of public relations Loyce Saili said the cost to complete the abandoned road project has been estimated to be between K1 trillion and K1.4 trillion according to a just-ended detailed design by Rankin.
“In the year 2005/2006 Zambia received above normal rain that affected the section of the road under construction in the Zambezi floodplain between Mongu and Kalabo. Most of the drainage structures were washed away and the project could thus not be completed,” Saili said.

Saili said the government engaged the services of DIWI consultants to carry out the necessary site investigations to ascertain why the road embankment was breached and washed away.

“After the investigations, it was deemed necessary to include a number of lightweight steel relief bridges in order to increase the cross-drainage capacity of the proposed embankment in the Zambezi floodplain between Mongu and Kalabo,” Saili said. “In the year 2007 the government set aside funds to procure 40 bailey bridges.”

Saili disclosed that a tender to supply and deliver the bailey bridges, currently piled at Mongu CCC Camp, was awarded to China National Aero Import and Export Beijing Company (CATIC at a cost of US$ 13, 158, 945. 00 with a delivery period of 24 weeks.

“In March 2008, the RDA went out to tender for the construction of the project in question. Only two bids were received at K1.0 trillion and K686 billion. One of the two bids was deemed non-responsive and thus rejected,” Saili said. “However, the only responsive bid was found to be too high. The RDA entered into negotiations with the contractor, the negotiations failed because the contractor was not willing to reduce the price substantially to within the engineer’s cost estimates of ZK710 billion. The tender was thus annulled.”

Saili said as a follow-up, a detailed engineering design was commissioned and has since been completed by Rankin Engineering Consultant.

“The Consultant estimated that the project will cost between K1 trillion to K1.4 trillion.
Saili said the scope of works under the new design includes, the piling for the proposed two kilometers of relief bridges, construction of abutment and piers, installation of bailey bridges, raising of the road embankment to the maximum level of seven metres and pavement construction of 35 kilometres up to Tapo from Mongu.

“In view of the huge construction cost of the project, stakeholders in Mongu have raised concerns that alternative routes may accrue substantial savings on the project,” Saili said. “In order to address this concern, RDA intends to immediately carry out further investigation/feasibility study into the viability of constructing an all weather road linking Mongu through Kalabo by exploring at least two additional routes apart from the route from Mongu to Lealui to Kalabo.”

She explained that the purpose of exploring alternative routes and options was to come up with the most technically feasible and economic link.

“These additional routes would include the link north-wards from Limulunga through Libonda to Kalabo and the link from Senanga to Sitoti to Kalabo,” Saili said. “The RDA has prepared an Addendum 1 to the initial contract with Messer’s Rankin Engineering Consultant and is awaiting approval from the NRFA…In view of the above, the RDA will float the works tender after the investigation/feasibility study to the two routes is completed.”

Chairman for the dissolved MMD Western executive committee Simasiku Namakando said failure by the government to complete the road project would be suicidal.