RDA engages market on $270 million World Bank–funded Serenje–Mpika road and Nakonde border upgrade

By Francis Lungu 

The Road Development Agency (RDA) has conducted an early market engagement to inform contractors and investors of upcoming infrastructure opportunities, including the rehabilitation of the Serenje–Mpika road and the upgrade of the Nakonde One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) in Zambia’s Northern Region.
The projects are being implemented with financial support from the World Bank through a grant valued at US$270 million, aimed at strengthening transport corridors and improving cross-border trade efficiency.
Under the road component, civil works for Lots One and Two will cover the 234-kilometre stretch between Serenje and Mpika, with a total budget allocation of US$150 million.
The rehabilitation is expected to significantly enhance road safety, reduce travel time, and improve connectivity between central and northern Zambia, as well as with regional markets.
Both the road rehabilitation and the Nakonde border post upgrade fall under the Transport Corridors for Economic Resilience (TRACER) programme, specifically the Road Infrastructure and Border Facility Development component.
The programme seeks to boost economic resilience by modernising critical transport infrastructure and facilitating smoother trade flows along key regional corridors.
Speaking during a Thursday, December 18th, 2025 engagement, in Lusaka, RDA Director for Planning and Design, Engineer Ziko Banda, said the initiative marked a key milestone in Zambia’s efforts to strengthen strategic transport corridors that support trade facilitation, economic resilience and regional integration.

The engagement focused on two priority interventions: the rehabilitation of the Serenje–Mpika Road, Packages 1 and 2, along the Kapiri Mposhi–Dar es Salaam Corridor, and the upgrade of the Nakonde One-Stop Border Post, a critical gateway for cross-border trade between Zambia and Tanzania.
Engineer Banda noted that the Serenje–Mpika section of the Great North Road remains one of the most strategic routes in Zambia’s road network, playing a central role in regional trade and connectivity.
Eng. Banda reaffirmed RDA’s commitment to ensuring that project preparation, procurement and technical oversight are carried out in line with World Bank requirements.
Beyond improving physical infrastructure, the TRACER Project is also designed to establish a SMART corridor, integrating enhanced road safety measures, improved mobility, automation and real-time traffic management to ensure long-term sustainability.
The Early Market Engagement was held to inform the market of forthcoming procurement opportunities, provide a transparent platform for feedback from contractors, consultants and suppliers, and promote fair competition in accordance with World Bank procurement regulations.
Eng. Banda emphasized that the engagement was non-binding and non-evaluative, and participation does not provide any bidding advantage.
“Stakeholders should actively engage, share insights and contribute to refining the procurement approach, with the ultimate goal of delivering high-quality, value-for-money infrastructure that benefits Zambia and the wider region,” Eng. Banda said.

For the Nakonde one-stop border post, the works will be spearheaded by the Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry at a cost of $19.5million from the same World Bank grant.
Explaining the details of the works, Ministry of Commerce senior economist Emmanuel Kafumukache said the project involves the upgrade of Nakonde One Stop Border Post under LOT 2.
Mr. Kafumukache said the scope of the work includes the construction of cold rooms; and drive through cargo scanner,
inspection sheds and warehouses.
“LOT 1 (commercial Side is currently practically completed and is expected to be launched by February, 2026… Water reticulation, fencing, external works among others,” Kafumukache said.