The Zambian Government has been awarded with loans of USD 193 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and USD 50 million from the Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF), for improvements at the Chinsali-Tunduma road, the Zambian side of the Nakonde-Tunduma corridor.
The loan is meant to fund the upgrades in the 210 km Chinsali-Tunduma road which includes the total reconstruction of the main and 50 km of feeder road, construction of service stations, and institutional support and capacity building.
The improvements at the Chinsali-Tunduma road aim to reduce the transport cost between southern Zambia and northern Tanzania by eliminating non-tariff barriers due to the lack of infrastructure and services on the road.
The upgrades are also meant to promote socio-economic development since it is a strategic national and regional road that connects eight countries as part of the Trans Africa Highway, which goes from Cape Town in South Africa to Cairo in Egypt.
The loan so the improvements are meant to support Zambia’s economic diversification connecting the country to the sea through Tanzania, explained the AfDB in a press release from 16th July 2015.
It is also in line with the Bank’s 2013-2022 strategy for development in the Sub-Saharan Region, since it will help to enhance the link between the cooper belt in Southern DR Congo, and the Dar es Salaam Port in Tanzania, stated the AfDB.
