On dusty and forest-laden stretches of land in Kaoma and Kalumbila Districts, newly constructed roads cut through Mayukwayukwa and Meheba like quiet promise. For the thousands of people who call these places home, the new infrastructure is a lifeline, a connection and perhaps most importantly, a symbol of how far they have come. 

One challenge persisted across both locations for years – Access. That is why the commissioning of a 25-kilometre road network and a footbridge in Mayukwayukwa and a 10.8-kilometre road and an all-purpose bridge in Meheba today stand as a turning point for the communities. This investment was made possible through the Development of Basic Infrastructure in Settlements for Displaced Persons and their Host Communities (DBI) Project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and implemented by the Office of the Vice President. The project is benefiting a targeted 42,000 people across Mayukwayukwa and Meheba and is valued at USD 5.3 million for the development of infrastructure that includes a 38.5-kilometer road, two bridges one day secondary school that will consist of staff houses, a water reticulation system and one full clinic rehabilitation, supporting Zambia’s broader vision of inclusive, productive and economically resilient resettlement schemes by December 2027.