‘TRUCKS WREAKING HAVOC ON KITWE TOWNSHIP ROADS’

By ROGERS KALERO

Some motorists including international truck drivers are allegedly using township roads in Kitwe to by pass the  bad patches of roads in various parts of the city

Kitwe Mayor Mpasa Mwaya said her office had continued to receive numerous reports from residents regarding some truck drivers using township roads to avoid potholes.

Some truck drivers including those from the Black mountain were also using some township roads to avoid the deplorable state of Chibuluma roads, but this has been a source of concern for the local authority because the Black mountain consortium has decided to be confrontational instead of collaborating   in finding a solution to the problem of dilapidated state of roads in the city. Ms Mwaya said most of the roads in Kitwe were in a deplorable state and needed urgent intervention from the government.

Ms Mwaya said, to make matters worse the Black mountain consortium has no regard for the local authority, saying the last time she talked about trucks from the black mountain damaging township roads, she was insulted and accused of politicking. 

She said  from the conduct of the Black mountain consortium, the only person they can listen to or get instructions from was the Kitwe District Commissioner (DC) and not any one from the local authority.

Ms Mwaya said, because, the trucks from the Black mountain were wrecking havoc on township roads, it was imperative that a certain amount of money from the proceeds of the black mountain was set aside to partner with the local authority in mending potholes in various parts of the city.

“We have two major challenges in the city, and these are solid waste management and deplorable state of roads. So, on solid waste management, whoever generates waste must be responsible for it. On the deplorable state of roads being caused by the trucks from the Black mountain, the consortium must find a way of mitigating the damage being caused on the roads by the trucks. 

“It has to set aside some money to supplement the council’s efforts of maintaining the roads. While some people are benefiting from the proceeds of Black mountain through cooperatives, motorists who are not benefiting anything from the Black mountain must not be punished by driving on dilapidated roads which were damaged by trucks operating at the Black mountain. No,” she said.