By Salome Gangire

Neno, April 17, Mana: Roads Authority (RA) Tuesday handed over a new contractor China Railway (CR) No 20 to complete the construction of the 20 km Neno-Tsangano Road Phase II.

The Roads Authority in October 2023 terminated the contract of China-Geo Company which was constructing the road due to the contractor failure to meet a number contractual issues and did not do any work.

According to RA Engineer Ntchindi Mkandawire, the new contractor was expected to start work from Ligowe where previous contractor, Fargo left to Base in the district.

“The cost of the road is pegged at K35 billion and will be done in 18 months,” he said.

CR-20 Liason Officer, Lasten Kasanga said his company was ready to do the work and would deliver quality work to the best of their ability according to the timeline.

“We have already looked at the issue of subcontracting and everything has planned on well," he said.

Kasanga said the company has already chosen three sub-contractors and they would select one from the list to work with them.

District Commissioner (DC) for Neno, Rosemary Nawasha expressed optimisms that since RA has handed over a contractor, work would start soon.

 She asked the contractor to hire unskilled labour from the district.

A representative of the Civil Society in Neno, Oscar Nkhoma asked the contractor to deliver quality work as the people of Neno have waited the road for a long time.