Nearly K100 Million Paid, But Solwezi Roads Remain Unfinished

With only 3.3 kilometres tarred, MakanDay examines conflicting explanations for the delays, questions surrounding subcontractors and whether the project can be completed by March 2027.

By Stanley Fwataka | Solwezi

A K272 million government-funded road project in Solwezi has missed its original March 2026 completion deadline, amid conflicting accounts of payments made to the contractor and growing concerns over the slow pace of construction.

Solwezi Municipal Council says approximately K100.48 million has been paid to JDCON Zambia Limited. However, the contractor maintains that only K97 million has been released and that no further payments have been received since July 2026.

The contractor also argues that deductions relating to a 20% advance payment have reduced the funds available for ongoing construction works, contributing to cash-flow constraints.

By October 2026, only 3.3 kilometres of the planned 12.01-kilometre road network had been tarred, approximately 17 months after the project’s official launch in May 2025.

The delays affect the Zambia–Kimasala Road to Kyawama Roundabout, Messenger–Kazomba Road to town, and Stadium–Faith Academy Road to Mitec — routes serving communities in a rapidly expanding mining town.

JDCON previously attributed delays partly to late government payments. However, the council told MakanDay on 13 October 2026 that all interim payment certificates submitted by the contractor had since been settled.

A growing town, unfinished roads

Solwezi’s rapid growth, driven largely by copper mining, has increased pressure on its roads and drainage systems.

Census figures show that the town’s urban population more than tripled, from 96,725 in 2010 to 305,027 in 2022.

In an earlier investigation, MakanDay established that Kansanshi Mining Plc financed K74.36 million in roadworks between 2021 and 2025 through an arrangement allowing approved expenditure to be offset against municipal property rates.

The roadworks accounted for 17.8% of the company’s rates obligations to the council over the period, with the balance paid in cash.

Meanwhile, the separately government-funded township roads project awarded to JDCON has continued beyond its original completion date.

Officially launched on 16 May 2025 by then North-Western Province Minister Rebert Lihefu, the project had reached only 3.3 kilometres of tarred road by October 2026, according to the council engineer.

That represents 27.5% of the 12.01 kilometres reported by the engineer, leaving 8.71 kilometres untarred. However, earlier reports put the project’s total length at 10.1 kilometres, a discrepancy that remains unexplained.

The figures suggest an average surfacing rate of about 194 metres per month since the launch. Although construction began earlier and the pace may vary between stages, the remaining work raises questions about whether the contractor can meet the reported March 2027 deadline.

A visit to the project sites by this reporter found workers carrying out drainage works, but no road construction activity by the main contractor, JDCON, was observed at the time of the inspection.

The inspection also revealed varying levels of progress across the affected roads. The Highland–Kimasala Road was impassable to motorists, while the Zambia–Kimasala Road had been partially worked on. Along the Faith Academy–Stadium Road, drainage construction was ongoing, but road surfacing had yet to begin.

Meanwhile, no construction activity was observed along the Kyawama and Messenger–Kazomba road sections during the visit.

Contractor’s payment explanation questioned

In a public statement issued on 28 August 2026, JDCON Zambia Limited said construction was progressing in line with payments received and that it was mobilising equipment, materials, workers and subcontractors.

Solwezi Municipal Council engineer David Pendeke acknowledged that delayed payments had previously affected construction and formed part of the contractor’s justification for seeking an extension. However, he said government cash flow had improved in recent months.

“For the past, I think, six months or five months, I think the cash flow has improved now,” Pendeke said.

According to Pendeke, approximately K100.48 million had been paid against the K272 million contract sum, equivalent to 36.9% of the contract value.

He maintained that all interim payment certificates submitted by the contractor had been settled.

“There is no money that the government is owing,” Pendeke said, referring to the submitted certificates.

However, JDCON disputed the council’s payment figures.

In a WhatsApp exchange with MakanDay, the contractor maintained that only K97 million, approximately 36% of the contract value, had been released.

“We have not received any payments from July (2026),” the representative said, adding: “There is no 100million paid to us.”

The contractor further confirmed that deductions relating to a 20% advance payment had reduced the amount available for ongoing construction works to approximately 16% of the project value.

The contractor’s account raises questions about how much money has been available for ongoing construction. However, its claim that advance-payment deductions reduced this amount to approximately 16% of the contract value remains unverified and requires examination of payment certificates and advance-payment recovery records.

The conflicting accounts also leave unresolved whether payments were made after July 2026, whether any certified amounts remain outstanding, and whether deductions account for part of the difference between the council’s and contractor’s figures.

MakanDay has not independently verified the payment certificates, bank transfers or advance-payment recovery records.

The payments also cannot be directly compared with the kilometres tarred because the contract covers drainage, culverts and other construction works.

Contractor reportedly granted another year

Pendeke said JDCON applied for an eight-month extension but was reportedly granted 12 months under a wider Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development decision affecting similar projects.

He understood the revised completion date to be around March 2027 but said the council had not received the complete extension documentation. The ministry has yet to confirm the revised deadline in writing.

Subcontractors face questions over selection and registration

Questions have also emerged over the selection and performance of companies reportedly subcontracted to undertake drainage and culvert works.

MakanDay identified eight reported subcontractors: Mulefu Mining and Construction Limited, Isunga Building and Civil Engineering Limited, Baraka Traders and Contractors Limited, NNS Investments and Construction Limited, Orbit Engineering Limited, Tungenu Construction Limited, Easy Concept Construction Limited and Tukimus Company Limited.

Pendeke said the ministry had proposed several subcontractors, some of whom struggled to mobilise because they lacked advance payments and were expected to begin work using their own resources.

However, he said subcontractor difficulties could not fully explain the delays because JDCON could continue work on road sections not awaiting drainage structures.

“Blaming the subcontractors 100% is not fair,” he said.

A review of Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) company records, identified the registered shareholders of seven of the reported subcontractors.

Mulefu Mining and Construction Limited is majority-owned by Subeta Kyambakuka Mutelo, who holds 80% of its shares. NNS Investments and Construction Limited is majority-owned by Needy Sabuni, with 75%, while Orbit Engineering Limited lists Lisa Mweni as holding approximately 96.7% of its issued shares.

The remaining companies have two shareholders each, with equal shareholdings recorded for Isunga Building and Civil Engineering, Baraka Traders and Contractors, Easy Concept Construction and Tukimus Company.

A separate search of records held by PACRA shows that Tungenu Zambia Construction Limited, one of the subcontracted companies, was incorporated in September 2019 and is listed as inactive. However, it remains unclear when the company became inactive, whether it was operational at the time the subcontract was awarded, or whether it received any payments under the project.

MakanDay is also investigating allegations that political considerations influenced the selection of both the main contractor and the subcontracted companies.

One ruling party provincial leader denied allegations that the companies had links to the ruling party but questioned how JD Con secured the contract despite allegedly lacking the necessary equipment.

MakanDay contacted JDCON for comment on the allegation, but the company did not respond to follow-up questions.

Who owns JD Con Zambia Limited?

PACRA records show that JDCON Zambia Limited is majority-owned by Mutale Kabuswe, who holds 60% of its listed issued shares.

Sydney Musonda Kalema holds 25%, while Mutale Nsama Kabuswe holds 15%.

The company, incorporated in August 2013, lists Mutale Kabuswe, Mutale Nsama Kabuswe and Moses Makalashi as directors, with Makalashi also serving as company secretary.

Communities affected by delays

Unfinished roadworks have disrupted access to several parts of Solwezi, particularly around Stadium and Kimasala, forcing motorists and residents to use alternative routes.

Solwezi Municipal Council engineer David Pendeke acknowledged the difficulties caused by the delays, although he said completed sections of the roads remained accessible.

“People are cut off. Some have to bypass and go the other way around,” he said.

The disruptions have also affected livelihoods, with road users and traders reporting increased transport costs and difficulties accessing some parts of the town.

Kaumba Saviye and Francis Dikashi, a motorist and motorcycle rider respectively, told MakanDay that impassable roads and diversions had disrupted their daily business, forcing transport operators to charge higher fares because of longer alternative routes.

They feared conditions could worsen during the rainy season, particularly in areas with limited alternative access.

Other market traders interviewed by MakanDay reported similar difficulties, saying increased transport costs, dust and flooding had affected their businesses and daily lives.

Who is supervising the works?

Day-to-day technical supervision rests with Iliso Consulting (Zambia) Limited, while Solwezi Municipal Council monitors progress, according to Pendeke.

PACRA records show that Samuel Gonga and Christopher Mususeni Mumba each hold 50% of the listed issued shares in Iliso Consulting (Zambia) Limited.

The company, incorporated in February 2012, lists Gonga, Mumba, Hans Weimer Hartung and Lingandran Colin Raman as directors.

Pendeke said Iliso oversees quality control, including laboratory testing of construction materials and completed works, and submits technical progress reports to the council and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.

When MakanDay sought details about construction progress, payment certification and delays, Iliso declined to comment directly, citing restrictions under its consultancy contract.

“Based on our services contract, and as per normal practice, the Consultant doesn’t have authority to issue press statements,” the company said in an emailed response.

It referred MakanDay to the council and the ministry for further information.

How much work has been completed?

Besides the 3.3 kilometres of tarred road, MakanDay has also established that approximately 1.726 kilometres of lined drains, six cross culverts, four access culverts, seven access slabs and six pedestrian slabs have been completed by October 2026.

One box culvert had been completed, while another was approximately 80% complete, Pendeke said.

Further, MakanDay has not obtained the contract documents or approved variations needed to establish the final scope of the works.

Without verified measurements and certified progress reports, the project’s overall physical completion percentage cannot be independently determined.

Questions remain over public spending

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has yet to respond to questions submitted by MakanDay, including whether the project will be completed by the revised March 2027 deadline.

With the council and contractor presenting conflicting payment figures, questions remain over the funds disbursed, the pace of construction and the government’s oversight of the project.

For Solwezi residents, the immediate concern is when the unfinished roads will become usable. Whether JDCON can deliver the remaining works by March 2027 remains uncertain, with the revised completion date still awaiting written confirmation from the ministry.

MakanDay contributed to the reporting, editing and fact-checking of this story.