Zambia Secures Additional World Bank Grants for Major Road Development Nationwide
The Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing, and Urban Development announced yesterday that the country is set to receive additional grants from the World Bank to bolster major road projects across the nation. The announcement came following a courtesy call by World Bank Regional Director of Infrastructure, Ms. Wendy Hughes, at Infrastructure House.
Ms. Hughes highlighted Zambia’s commendable track record of accountability and efficient utilization of previous World Bank funding, underscoring the country’s strong candidacy for further financial support despite stiff competition from other nations vying for infrastructure funding.
The focus of the discussion centered on the implementation of the US$270 million TRACER funding, which Ms. Hughes urged the Zambian government to expedite. This funding is crucial for advancing key infrastructure projects nationwide.
Hon. Charles Lubasi Milupi, MP, Minister of Infrastructure, Housing, and Urban Development, reiterated the government’s commitment to President Hakainde Hichilema’s directive of ensuring all infrastructure projects are procured at fair prices, adhere to international quality standards, and meet agreed-upon timelines.
Acknowledging the longstanding partnership between Zambia and the World Bank since 1955, Hon. Milupi expressed gratitude for the bank’s continuous support, which has amounted to over US$1 billion in concessional funding for reforms and critical service delivery.
In particular, Hon. Milupi highlighted the significance of the Zambia Improved Rural Connectivity Project (IRCP), which aims to enhance rural road connectivity across all ten provinces of Zambia. The success of this project has prompted the government to seek further support for its expansion into areas not covered under the current arrangement.
Despite grappling with a substantial infrastructure debt, the Zambian government remains committed to finding viable solutions to address this challenge while ensuring the sustained development of the nation’s infrastructure network.
Looking ahead, the Ministry anticipates receiving additional support under the IDA20 program, considering Zambia’s debt burden and the pressing need for continued infrastructure development.
