In Zambia some roads are designated as numbered routes to help with navigation.[1] [2] [3] There is a nationwide numbering scheme consisting of Inter-Territorial roads, Territorial roads, District roads and Rural roads.[4] [5]
Out of a total of 91,440 km of roads in Zambia (2001), 20,117 km were paved and 6,779 km were part of Inter-Territorial Roads or Territorial Roads. 71,323 km of roads were unpaved (Some of the unpaved highways are graded laterite roads).[6] [7]
Every Inter-Territorial Road, together with many Territorial Roads and a few District Roads, are designated as Toll roads.[8] The tollgates are administered by the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) and the Road Development Agency (RDA) together with concessionaires (public-private partnerships) for some roads.
In October 2022, at a symposium was dubbed “Sustainable infrastructure development using cement and concrete technologies", Road Development Agency (RDA), Chilanga Cement, Dangote Limited and Bari Zambia Limited signed an agreement to partner on the development of concrete roads across the country.[9]
In the 1970s Zambia had one of the best highway networks in sub-Saharan Africa. In 1991 it was estimated by the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) that 80 percent of the road network had deteriorated and out of total road assets valued at US$2.3 billion, US$400 million had been lost due to neglected maintenance. The government introduced a road fund levy on fuel and that together with international aid has improved the highway network. In 2004 the NRFA rated 57% of paved roads in good condition, 22% in fair condition and 21% in poor condition.[10]
Inter-territorial roads are the main routes used to connect Zambia with other countries.[11] They are designated with a letter T followed by a number from 1 to 6.
| Number | Description | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| T1 road (Zambia) | Turnpike - Choma - Livingstone - Zimbabwe | 430 km | |
| T2 road (Zambia) | Tanzania - Mpika - Kabwe - Lusaka - Zimbabwe | 1155 km | part of the route is known as the Great North Road. |
| T3 road (Zambia) | Kapiri Mposhi - Ndola - Kitwe - Chingola - Congo | 263 km | |
| T4 road (Zambia) | Lusaka - Petauke - Katete - Chipata - Malawi | 595 km | |
| T5 road (Zambia) | Chingola - Solwezi - Mwinilunga - Angola | 545 km | |
| T6 road (Zambia) | Katete - Mozambique | 56 km | |
Territorial Roads are the main routes connecting different towns of Zambia in areas where there is no Inter-Territorial Road. They are designated with an M followed by a number from 1 to 20.
| Number | Description | Length |
|---|---|---|
| M1 road (Zambia) | Mpika - Kasama - Mbala - Tanzania | 404 km |
| M2 road (Zambia) | Mbala - Mpulungu | 38 km |
| M3 road (Zambia) | Kasama - Mansa - Congo | 434 km |
| M4 road (Zambia) | Sabina - Mufulira - Ndola | 85 km |
| M5 road (Zambia) | Mufulira - Congo | 18 km |
| M6 road (Zambia) | Kafulafuta - Luanshya | 41 km |
| M7 road (Zambia) | Kitwe - Kalulushi | 15 km |
| M8 road (Zambia) | Mutanda - Kawana - Kabompo - Zambezi | 464 km |
| M9 road (Zambia) | Lusaka - Mumbwa - Kaoma - Mongu | 584 km |
| M10 road (Zambia) | Livingstone - Kazungula - Sesheke - Senanga - Mongu | 508 km |
| M11 road (Zambia) | Choma - Namwala | 169 km |
| M12 road (Zambia) | Chipata - Lundazi | 180 km |
| M13 road (Zambia) | Chipili - Kawambwa | 88 km |
| M14 road (Zambia) | Nakonde - Malawi (Chitipa) & Malawi (Chisenga) - Thendere - Muyombe - Malawi (Katumbi) | |
| M15 road (Zambia) | Chirundu - Siavonga - Zimbabwe | 65 km |
| M16 road (Zambia) | Kalulushi - Sabina | 14 km |
| M18 road (Zambia) | Kalulushi - Lufwanyama - Kawana | 251 km |
| M19 road (Zambia) | Kazungula - Botswana | 3 km |
| M20 road (Zambia) | Landless Corner - Mumbwa | 120 km |