Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2000.Rural road maintenance has received little or no attention in Zambia for a long time,
resulting in an adverse impact on the economy. Meanwhile Road Authorities have
continued to use traditional capital-intensive periodic and routine maintenance at the
expense of scarce foreign exchange. The system has not performed well, hence the current
state of roads.
Labour-based methods for routine maintenance under the Lengthmen System used in
Kenya, Lesotho and other developing countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa have proved to
be technically and economically viable.
In this report the author examines the desirability of using the Labour-Based Lengthmen
System as an alternative to the existing capital -intensive methods in Zambia. This is done
through rev iewing rural road maintenance in Zambia and then carrying out a comparative
analysis of the same bctween Zambia, Kenya and Lesotho
The comparative analysis shows that Zambia is not performing well when compared to
Kenya and Lesotho. Meanwhile, the Lengthmen System is more desirable compared to
other methods under the current economic conditions. Recommendations, based on the
comparative analysis, have been given to improve rural road maintenance in Zambia
