Zambian President Edgar Lungu on Friday defended his government’s decision to embark on massive road works across the country, saying it was necessary to enhance investments.

Lungu, who commissioned a newly-constructed flyover bridge in Lusaka, the country’s capital said; “Of course our critics have said, and they continue to campaign that we were reckless for having borrowed but they were shy to tell the people frankly how that money we borrowed had been used.’’

The Zambian leader said his government had prioritised investing money into improving the country’s road networks because of the benefits that would be realised.

According to him, investors will only come to Zambia if there is a proper road network.

Lungu said that investors were not keen to put up factories in a country with a poor road network.

“Investors believe in efficiency and they do not want to spend hours on short distances due to bad roads,’’ he said.

He noted that with increased investments, the government would be able to create jobs for its citizens so that they contribute to the country’s development.

Lungu expressed gratitude that the transformation agenda of the country was being achieved through the infrastructure projects being put in place across the country.

Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj on Friday withdrew his decision to resign and will remain in office until the ongoing intra-Libyan political dialogue is concluded.

The 60-year-old is the head of the Tripoli-based internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA).

Al-Serraj’s decision comes a day after the High Council of State urged him to stay until a new Presidential Council is selected – to avoid a potential political vacuum, which could come at a detriment to the country’s stability.

The United Nations’ Support Mission in Libya and the country’s parliament in Tripoli also urged the Prime Minister to defer his resignation, citing reasons of higher national interest.

Al-Serraj announced his plans to resign in September, noting that he would hand over power no later than the end of October, as part of a historic deal to end years of conflict with a rival political faction led by renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar.

Last week, the two warring sides signed an agreement in Geneva for a permanent ceasefire, stating that all foreign fighters and mercenaries are to leave the country within the next three months; and are due to hold in-person negotiations to discuss national elections and the reunification of the armed forces.

Libya descended into a state of civil war after the overthrow and killing of strongman nationalist leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

The North African country was split between two main factions – the GNA in Tripoli, backed by Turkey and Qatar, and Haftar’s forces in the east, backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Russia.

The Party for Democracy and Progress, commonly known as Chadema, and the Alliance for Change and Transparency–Wazalendo (ACT–Wazalendo) have rejected Tanzania’s election results and demanded fresh polls be conducted.

The two main opposition parties in the East African country denounced last week’s presidential vote as fraudulent.

The Chadema and ACT-Wazalendo parties, in a joint news conference, also called for mass protests from Monday.

Incumbent President John Magufuli was declared victor in Wednesday’s election with 84% of the vote.

Chadema alleges ballot boxes were tampered with after its agents were stopped from entering polling stations.

“We first call for fresh elections as soon as possible,” the party’s chairman, Freeman Mbowe, said on Saturday.

“We call for continuous, peaceful, countrywide demonstrations until our demands are met.”

ACT-Wazalendo leader Zitto Kabwe said the decision was for “the future of our country”.

“We cannot accept going back to a one-party system,” he added.

Tundu Lissu – Chadema’s candidate for president and Mr Magufuli’s main rival – won just 13% of the vote. He said on Thursday it “was not an election by both Tanzanian and international laws. It was just a gang of people who have just decided to misuse state machinery to cling to power”.

The head of the National Electoral Commission, Semistocles Kaijage, said allegations of fake ballot papers were unsubstantiated.

An observer mission from the East African Community said the election was “conducted in a regular manner” but the US embassy in Dar es Salaam said that “irregularities and the overwhelming margins of victory raise serious doubts about the credibility of the results… as well as concerns about the government of Tanzania’s commitment to democratic values”.

Mr Magufuli has been president since 2015 but his CCM party has been in power since independence in 1961.