A heavy downpour has washed away the Kakoso Bridge, cutting off Chililabombwe District from the rest of the Copperbelt Province and disrupting traffic along the international road to the Kasumbalesa Border.
The damage has affected both local motorists and cross-border trade, as the route is a key link for trucks and commercial vehicles heading to and from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Copperbelt Minister Elisha Matambo says teams from AVIC International, the concessionaire, the Zambia National Service, Chingola and Chililabombwe local authorities, and the Provincial Administration are on site assessing the extent of the damage.
Matambo says a temporary detour is being prepared to allow smaller vehicles to pass, while trucks using the Kasumbalesa route have been advised to hold on for at least 24 hours as authorities work on restoring access.
He has urged border authorities and trucking companies to remain patient as government agencies coordinate efforts to address the situation.
The Minister has further called on the concessionaire to consider constructing a permanent bridge to avoid similar occurrences in the future.
Meanwhile, Turbo Kachin Consortium Limited, the concessionaire for the Kasumbalesa–Chingola Road Project, says its construction and safety teams were deployed immediately to secure the area and begin technical assessments.
The Road Development Agency (RDA) is providing technical oversight and working closely with the concessionaire to ensure that remedial works meet required standards and that traffic flow is restored safely.
Additionally, Paul Kabuswe, Chililabombwe Member of Parliament and Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, says the heavy rains left part of the international road damaged, causing serious inconvenience to motorists and businesses.
By Lovemore Sondashi
