IN response to President Hakainde Hichilema’s declaration of the current drought as a state of emergency, the Zambia National Service (ZNS) has today commissioned 10 newly acquired heavy tipper trucks that will be used in the construction of 11 dams in six provinces.
The trucks that will be used in road construction and road rehabilitation have been procured through China using ZNS’s internally acquired funds at a cost of over K16 million.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony at the ZNS land development branch (LDB) headquarters in Lusaka, Defense Minister, Ambrose Lufuma commended the service for its adequate efforts in capacitating state institutions and making them more effective in the execution of critical development projects.
Lufuma said the purchase of the Tipper trucks has come at the time when ZNS is contracted by Government through the ministry of Water Development and Sanitation to construct 11 community dams in six provinces.
These provinces include Northern, Eastern, Muchinga, Central, Western and Southern provinces.
The minister also noted that aside from the dam construction, the trucks will also be useful during the feeder roads construction.
“May I encourage the service to deploy the tracks in projects that will be beneficial to Zambians. Government is anxious to see dams speedily constructed so that our people are afforded reliable access to water supply for irrigation purposes as well as for their animals,” said Lufuma.
The minister also added that Government is in a hurry to reverse the effects of drought and facilitate the growing of off-season maize for Zambians through the construction of dams.
And ZNS Commander, Lieutenant General Maliti Solochi, in a speech read on his behalf by deputy commander and chief of staff, major general Reuben Mwewa said the Service is working on growing its capacity in undertaking bituminous standard roads so that it can be deployed in bigger road construction projects.
Lt Gen Solochi added that the procured equipment will also enable the service to undertake a wide range of earth works in real time.
Further, the commander affirmed the ZNS’s commitment to continue serving the nation, adding that its land development branch will reposition itself to play a pivotal role in shaping the physical infrastructure and landscape of the nation.
“We remain relentless in our efforts to enhance our capacity to be highly responsive to both private and public demands for earth works,” the commander said.
Meanwhile, ZNS chief of land development brigadier general Jephan Mukanda alluded that the procured land equipment are intended to be deployed in various parts of the nation for the construction and rehabilitation of earth dams.
He revealed that as of now, the service has already begun its mobilisation to construct and rehabilitate the 11 earth dams in five provinces so far.
“Sir, LDB as a branch, we pledge that these tipper trucks will be maintained in good working condition so as to ensure the smooth operation and timely completion of the afore mentioned projects,” Brig Gen Mukanda said…https://kalemba.news/business/2024/04/11/zns-attacks-drought-with-dam-construction-10-procured-tipper-trucks/
By Buumba Mwitumwa
Kalemba April 11, 2024
 has today commissioned 10 newly acquired heavy tipper trucks that will be used in the construction of 11 dams in six provinces.){kind=link}