Zambia
2.3 Zambia Road Network
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The country shares its borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, and Angola. About one half of the population is concentrated in a few urban zones strung along the major transportation corridors, while rural areas are under-populated.

Zambia has a road network of approximately 67,671 km, of which 40,454 km is core road network and only about 15% is paved. The hub and spoke design of the road network has Lusaka as the hub. Virtually all trunk highways go through Lusaka. Traveling from the north to south or vice versa, is extremely difficult as the road conditions prevent by passing Lusaka to a great extent. 

The trading corridors are paved and in good condition.

Main trading corridors

  1. Chirundu border with Zimbabwe in the south via Lusaka to the Copperbelt Province (Ndola, Kitwe in the center north – T2 to T3). T3 continues to Mwinilunga on the Angolan border in the northwest.
  2. Chirundu border via Lusaka along the T2 to Tanzania at Tunduma.
  3. Lusaka via T4 to Chipata on the Malawi border

Secondary corridors

  1. Livingstone in the south west at the border with Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe to Lusaka (T1 to Lusaka - Tourism main industry).
  2. M1 from Mpika in Muchinga Province (at the intersection of T2 and M1) to the northern border with Tanzania at Mbala.

Extensive investment was made by the World Bank on the rehabilitation of about 105km of a section of trunk road between Lusaka and the Zambia/Zimbabwe border town of Chirundu, as well as the construction of Chiawa and Mufuchani bridges. 

The main natural resource is copper and the road network is integral for the export of the copper from the north central Province called the Copperbelt.  This road network from Ndola to the south will be undergoing significant investment by the Zambian Government.  Copper mining companies move copper from the Copperbelt Province by road to Ports throughout the Southern Africa region year round using all of the border crossings in the west, and south.

Secondary roads are mostly gravel or a mix of gravel/sand/dirt and subject to damage from the rainy season floods and usage.  These roads while essential for internal distribution of goods for the country are reasonably maintained.  However, the Tertiary roads require off-road capability especially in the rainy season and can be impassable, maintenance is not as regular. 

Main challenges are in the rural areas and especially along the border areas. In the south west the roads tend to be primarily sand/gravel mix and are very difficult to navigate even in the dry season.  Along the eastern border with Malawi the roads are hilly to valley bottom and subject to washout and flooding in the rainy season with only 4x4 car access for the most part.

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Zambia Government Contact List.

Distance Matrix

Distances from Capital City to Major Towns (km)

 

Lusaka

Ndola

Solwesi

Chirundu

Chipata

Livingstone

Mbala

Mwinilunga

Lusaka


321

583

136

580

472

581

1614

Ndola

321


283

890

714

793

1014

368

Solwesi

583

283


1152

966

515

916

360

Chirundu

136

890

1152


841

1041

1586

1428

Chipata

580

714

966

841


1277

544

1252

Livingstone

472

793

515

1041

1277


1789

791

Mbala

581

1014

916

1586

544

1789


984

Mwinilunga

1614

368

360

1428

1252

791

984


 

Travel Time from Capital City to Major Towns (hours)

 

Lusaka

Ndola

Solwesi

Chirundu

Chipata

Livingstone

Mbala

Mwinilunga

Lusaka


4

8

1.5

6

5

10

13

Ndola

4


4

6

10

9

14

9

Solwesi

8

4


9.5

14

13

18

5

Chirundu

1.5

6

9.5


7.5

5

11.5

14.5

Chipata

6

10

14

7.5


11

15

19

Livingstone

5

9

13

5

11


15

18

Mbala

10

14

18

11.5

15

15


23

Mwinilunga

15

9

5

14.5

19

18

23


Road Security

There are no major issues with security on the roads. In border areas with DRC security issues tends to be more visibly present.

Weighbridges and Axle Load Limits

The Zambian Load Limits policy dates from 2007.  The Road Development Agency (RDA) through the Axle Load Control Unit operates the static and portable weighbridges.  It employs a Vehicle Overload Management Information System where all electronic weighbridges are linked to a database at the RDA Headquarters enabling real time monitoring and access to all weighbridges remotely.  CCTV cameras are at all weighbridges as well as speed cameras in highway roads

The Unit operates eight fixed weighbridges spread around the critical points on the road network and more expected to be commissioned in some provinces. Six of the eight weighbridges, namely Kapiri Mposhi, Kazungula, Livingstone, Solwezi, Kafue and Mpika weighbridges are electronic, while the rest namely Kafuluafuta and Mwami are mechanical.  In addition the unit has three Mobile Inspectorate teams which carry out highway spot checks using portable weighbridges.  Two Inspectorate teams are based in Lusaka and one is in the Copperbelt Province.

Axle Load Limits

Zambia Permissible Gross Vehicle Mass

Truck with 4 Axles

28 MT

Truck with 3 Axles

26 MT

Truck with 2 Axles

18 MT

Truck & Drawbar Trailer with 7 Axles

56 MT

Truck & Drawbar Trailer with 6 Axles

53 MT

Truck & Drawbar Trailer with 5 Axles

45 MT

Truck & Drawbar Trailer with 4 Axles

37 MT

Semi-trailer with 6 Axles

50 MT

Semi-trailer with 5 Axles

44 MT

Semi-trailer with 4 Axles

36 MT

Semi-trailer with 3 Axles

28 MT

 

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