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Lea Mutanda and Precious Masakara
Government has commissioned road construction equipment and trucks that were secured by Central Mechanical Equipment Department (CMED).
The equipment includes a road reclaimer, one asphalt paver and seven 10 ton trucks which are much needed in roadworks.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony held in the capital yesterday Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza commended CMED for playing a pivotal role in infrastructural development.
“From where I stand I can see two gigantic pieces of equipment namely a road reclaimer and an asphalt paver,” said Matiza.
“As for the trucks we are all familiar with them and the reason why they are packaged together with these pieces of equipment as they play a complimentary role in road maintenance programs.
“Today I therefore wish to set the tone that institutions like CMED have an important role to play towards the economic development of the country, beyond seeking the narrow perspective of ensuring that accounts books balance.”
The procurement is in line with the Minister of Finance and Economic Development’s Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) where CMED is supposed to rehabilitate old idle machines.
Minister Matiza added that Government has also handed over old machines to CMED due to the entity’s capacity to reassemble them.
“It is for this reason that we have decided to hand over to you all JICA donated equipment that was left lying idle at various sites throughout the country on completion of identified department of roads projects.
“We realised that the department of roads neither has the skills nor the workshop facilities to repair and maintain those pieces of equipment.
“I therefore urge you to speed up the exercise of locating the equipment and transporting it to your workshops for repair. Please urgently fix that equipment and make it available for hire.”
Online Reporter