Zambia: Climate resilience comes under scrutiny

By Violet Mengo

Zambia is constructing the first ever climate-resilient roads in the rural part of the country in an effort to protect infrastructure from harsh effects of climate change.

For now, the focus is on rural areas because in those communities, roads are the only linkt people depend on to access social and economic services. In short, roads are crucial for the survival of people in rural areas.

The Kalomo-Dundumwezi-Itezhi-tezhi-Namwala road project recently commissioned by President Edgar Lungu runs from Kalomo through Dundumwezi to Itezhi- tezhi district and ends at the Namwala pontoon.

The road network is financed through a loan from African Development Bank (AfDB) at a cost of US$21 million, covering a stretch of 237 kilometres.

The climate-resilient road will have elevating embankments and other features that will help safeguard it against floods. The drainage systems will be upgraded to climate-proofed standards which are expected to control soil erosion.

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