By Mubanga Mubanga
Government has appointed economist Noel Nkoma as National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) chairperson.
Finance minister Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane announced the development in a statement released by Secretary to the Treasury.
“Pursuant to Section 5 (1) of the National Road Fund Act Number 13 of 2002, the Minister of Finance and National Planning Dr. SITUMBEKO MUSOKOTWANE, MP, announces that Mr. NOEL NKHOMA has been appointed (Tuesday 2nd April, 2024) as Board Chairman of the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA), in place of Mrs. AVET MULONGA HAMUWELE, who exited the board by mutual separation, in February, 2024,” read the statement in part.
In a congratulatory message to Nkhoma, Dr. Musokotwane urged Nkhoma to stimulate the board and management towards the Government’s common purpose of building a better country for all, through prioritization of value for money in financing, well managed road sector funds and streamlined and strengthened payment systems.
The Minister has urged the NRFA Board (majority of whom were appointed in March, 2023) to closely work with other public institutions such as the Zambia
Revenue Authority (ZRA), Road Development Agency (RDA), Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA), and the Department of Immigration to assess the state of operations at major borders to ascertain that systems are integrated for the benefit of the travelling public and regional trade facilitation.
Dr. Musokotwane further encouraged the board to work with the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Department in the Ministry of Finance and National Planning to explore road sector financing models that will further reduce the dependency of major transport infrastructure projects on
the treasury and elevate private sector participation.
He also called for continuous training and re-training of toll managers and operators to ensure improved efficiency at toll-gates – existing and future ones.
The minister also tasked the NRFA board to guide management in re-developing the organisations strategic plan in line with the Eight National Development
Plan (8NDP) and the thrust of the Government to develop through public-private-partnerships that
leave no one and no region behind.
