The Minister for Works and Transport has instructed the Roads Authority to address the recently cut-off road between Lubuta and Sachona Village in the Zambezi Region following heavy rains.

Veikko Nekundi informed the community that a team, including a contractor, will be on site soonest.

"To the CEO to do an emergency procurement so that you are provided access to your mobility, so they must, we must act with urgency so that you are provided with access. It's very serious, but rest assured that we must restore your mobility and access to wherever you want to go."

The cutoff-point was retracted on Monday following the weekend's rains.

The situation has left learners commuting to Sachona Secondary School in a predicament, while the entire community of Lubuta is cut off from the nearest clinic.

Motorists are unable to use the route without risk.

The community also fear that additional points may get cut off due to the rain.

To that, RA Chief Executive Officer Mbahupu Tjivikua said plans are already in motion to address the matter.

"We didn't see any cut-off points, but there's a potential because the water has gone up. It's a water challenge that has flowed over the road, and most likely with more rain coming either tonight or tomorrow, we may potentially see that most of the sections of the road are closed, so we have called for backup in terms of our maintenance unit to come and block the roads and put up signs so that the community are not able to drive through.”

Tjivikua noted that they have activated their emergency response plan to get the required machinery and personnel on the road to fast-track restoration.

Both the minister and the chief executive officer were in the Zambezi Region, conducting site visits on the ongoing road projects around the region.

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Juliet Sibeso