ECZ condemns design of
Mongu-Kalabo road
Post of
By Nomusa Maunga in Siavonga
ENVIRONMENTAL Council of Zambia (ECZ) director Edward Zulu has said the current
design of the Mongu-Kalabo road will continue to be a liability to the people
of
And Zulu said the problems being faced in the construction of thr road could have been avoided if there was wider
consultation.
In an interview, Zulu said Ministry of Works and Supply failed to comply with
the Environmental Act in constructing the Mongu-Kalabo road.
"They have failed to comply to the Environmental
Act and in so doing the project was not done in the interest of the
people," he said.
"We had advised that where the road was being carried out was a plain. And
just by looking at it, we could see that it could not withstand the floods once
they were through. Look at what has happened."
He said the ECZ was still concerned with the slow pace of the ministry's
response to the request for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
"Our worry is still continuing, so we wrote to them again in June to do an
impact assessment and to date they have not complied," Zulu said.
"As of now, the current design will become a liability to the people there
because it actually dividing the plain into two."
Zulu said the culverts that were designed for the road were too small for
canoes or boats to pass through and would actually hinder movement.
"The people in
He said the designers of the road should have taken these parameters into
account.
"We would want the ministry to do a full EIA. For them to have constructed
the road without an EIA, that was illegal. It's the same as ignoring tender
procedures," he said.
He said as ECZ was concerned no one was above the law and the ministry would
have to comply with the dictates of the Environmental Act.