Kasupe Bridge at Risk


AIPAC advise government to consoder assigning the ZNS to manage CDF road grading

By Francis Maingaila
Lusaka, Zambia24 --- (December 30, 2025) --- The Acton Institute for Policy Analysis Centre (AIPAC) has warned that the Kasupe Bridge is at risk due to neglect and has called on the government to urgently assign the Zambia National Service (ZNS) to manage Constituency Development Fund (CDF) road grading, saying failure to act could cut off Kasupe Kawaya residents from Lusaka’s central business district.

AIPAC Executive Director Solomon Ngoma said the organisation’s position is based on observations of CDF-funded road works and growing concern over weak oversight, which he said threatens the quality and sustainability of key community infrastructure.

Ngoma said the Zambia National Service has demonstrated strong capacity, discipline and efficiency in infrastructure development, adding that placing CDF road grading under ZNS would improve accountability and ensure timely, high-quality outcomes.

He cited the Kasupe Bridge, which separates Chilanga and Katuba constituencies, as a critical example of infrastructure requiring immediate attention.

The bridge connects Kasupe Kawaya to Kasupe Road and provides access to Lusaka’s central business district, markets, schools and health facilities.

Ngoma warned that continued neglect of the bridge could isolate the community, disrupt economic activity and limit access to essential services, undermining the objectives of the CDF, which is intended to empower communities through improved local infrastructure.

He has since appealed to the Central Province Minister, who is also the Katuba Member of Parliament, together with the Chilanga Member of Parliament, to take urgent steps to safeguard the Kasupe Bridge and ensure effective management of the connecting road network.

“This is not merely a local issue but a matter of national importance, given the role the bridge and road play in facilitating commerce and mobility between communities and the capital,” Ngoma said.

AIPAC further urged the Ministry of Local Government to adopt the Rufunsa policy framework, which places ZNS at the forefront of road grading projects under the CDF, arguing that such an approach would strengthen local governance and improve management of public resources.

The policy think tank reaffirmed its commitment to supporting policies that promote accountability and sustainable infrastructure development, stressing that decisive action would keep communities such as Kasupe Kawaya connected and economically productive.

© 2025. All rights reserved.

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