In a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday by NRFA spokesperson, Alphonsius Hamachila after the recording, the Japanese envoy said "the master development study on the greater Lusaka urban transportation, land use, ring roads, water and sanitation improvement will cost my government about K1.2 billion."
He said it was the first time Japan was developing such a master development plan for a city in Africa.
"For Japan, this is a historical project. We have developed a similar master plan in Mongolia but we have not done it in Africa," he said.
He said his country would engage relevant ministries and Government institutions such as the Lusaka City Council and road sector agencies as it developed the plan. The study has been necessitated by the rapid expansion of Zambia's capital.
Once the Lusaka master development plan is completed, it will require huge amounts of money to put the infrastructure in place and Japan will significantly finance its implementation.
Japan has also committed about K160 billion for road works in Ndola, Kitwe and Livingstone cities.
Mr Miyashita said about K80 billion would be used to improve and maintain Livingstone city roads for the period 2008 to 2009 while another K80 billion would go towards improving Ndola and Kitwe city roads for the period 2007 to 2008.
He said the feasibility study for the improvement and maintenance of the Ndola and Kitwe city roads had already begun.
Mr Miyashita said road infrastructure development in Zambia was one of the priorities for his country because a quality road network fostered economic emancipation.
The nine series NRFA documentary dubbed 'Road Fund at Work' will highlight the agency's internal operations, acknowledge sources of the road fund and pinpoint the objectives and achievements of phase two of the $US1.60 billion Road Sector Investment Programme (ROADSIP II).
It will also highlight how much money has been disbursed on various road projects in the nine provinces of Zambia from Government allocations, fuel levy and cooperating partners such as the World Bank, European Union (EU), Norway, Japan, Germany and others.
Source: Africa Guide
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