Construction works of the long awaited ultra modern stadium in Ndola has commenced with the Chinese contractor, Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Company, AFECC, assuring government that it will produce quality work at the site.
A Check at the stadium site yesterday found Chinese engineers and some government engineers carrying out some preliminary surveys.
Speaking in an interview with AFECC vice president, Hua Cheng Long, said the site is good and his group will do a good job.
Meanwhile, the Zambian government has handed over the stadium site to the Chinese contractor for them to begin the construction works expected to be completed in 26 months at a cost of US$65 million.
The construction of the over 40,000 seater stadium has been funded through a concession loan from the Chinese government to the people of Zambia.
Speaking when he handed over the certificates of duration of works and site possession to the contractor, Copperbelt Permanent Secretary, Villie Lombanya, thanked the Chinese contractor for finally commencing the construction works after the projected commencement stalled for a long time.
Mr. Lombanya said the Zambian people have anxiously waited for the commencement of the project and are glad that it has now commenced.
He urged Zambians, who will be recruited to work with the Chinese constructor, to work hard and emulate the Chinese hardworking culture.
He warned Zambian casual workers against the habit of absconding from work or pretend to be sick after being paid.
And AFECC vice president, Hua Cheng Long, said the good cooperation from the Zambian people will enhance success in the construction of the stadium.
He said his team was determined to work hard to accord Zambians to enjoy watching their beloved games from a comfortable stadium.
He wished the Zambian National Football Team well in their campaign for the 2010 World Cup qualifier in South Africa.
And Ministry of Sports, Youth and Child Development Director of Buildings, Whyteson Ngulube, who witnessed the site handover ceremony expressed happiness at the commencement of the stadium construction works.
ZANIS
I wonder how many times this construction work will begin !
I hope it starts. Its been too much of paper work without action.
i guess # 1, we talk too much ! we need to benefit from the world cup 2010 by providing accommodation, sporting facilities ,etc to the visiting clubs, promoters and fans.
Anyway, thats the way to go
First it was a grant. Now it’s a concessionary loan. Why should we get a loan to build a stadium?
Could have helped if this story said where this site is. Much as LT expects every person to know, I think there are people out there who don`t. Not suprised. Zed journalism. Kuchita guess wemwine.
Its unfortunate that the PS is already encouraging casualisation. What sought of leaders do we have in Zambia? I fail to understand. Fellow interlectuals is it in order? Let us declare a leadership crisis in Zambia.
we must not misuse words. do you know what ultra morden stadia look like?????? in Zambia everything is ultra modern……….
26 months?????!!!!!!!!!!! nishi world cup yapita. Malawi yeve ina siliza kudala stadium jus waiting to reap the rewards. but pa zed away….
yaba but zoona pa zed!! Angola while strugling with a civil wr are hosting the africa cup!! we couldn’t even host the whole africa games because of poor!! no lack of hosting venues!! this should not even be anounced because its long over due!! some one remind me why we vote for the mmd!? what major public infasturcture have they put up in over 15 years in power!!………… every thing we have was built during kaunda!! this one better be good!!!!!!!!!!
#25. my thought exactly. where is this site.
sorry i meant #5 in post #10
#10 I bet LT can not see anything wrong with this story. People are expected to know anyway!
I thought the construction was now nearing completion! How many times is it going to begin anyway?
I wonder where we are going ba Banda, Mwanawasa told us it was a grand but now it is loan and we shall need another HIPC completion.
Finally!! Can someone on the ground (Ndola resident please!) confirm this report please? #9 is so right; we know that Angola struck oil and have the money and hence the infrastructure to host the Africa Cup but poverty should not be our excuse. All those years that they were busy fighting Savimbi we could have hosted the Africa Cup at least once! Awe shuwa, not even once have we hosted it! Yet we are one of Africa’s soccer loving nations.
I think Angola has a better caliber of leaders. I’m not just talking about our leaders in government. I’m talking about all of us Zambians. It’s about time we started leading in areas that government seems to be failing. I say we are all to blame, not just government. As ordinary citizens we should have taken the initiative. To be continued…….
Continued from #15…. As ordinary citizens we should have taken the initiative. My mum once told me that the construction of UNZA was partly funded by contributions from ordinary citizens. Look at UNZA now; still standing and producing world class graduates. As in the words of JFK from his inauguration speech: “ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country”. I’m sure there are Zambians with integrity that we can trust to raise funds in the same way to build an “ultra modern stadium”. I don’t believe that we are all thieves and corrupt. Even ordinary citizens such as ba kaponya and ba ngwangwazi could have contributed to such a great cause. Let’s all start thinking about leaving a legacy more than just FINDECO House for our children. One Zambia!
Why is it that the loan provider and builder are “one and the same”? It is bothering me that the loan providers have chosen their representative corporate to build the stadium. This kind of setting is very unfair. WE need to set up a biding process for the construction company to be awarded the contract.
If we are ultimately paying for the stadium, our constructors must have a piece of the pie.And lets not forget the learning experience that they are missing out on. There is no exchange of knowledge in this deal. Its a one way deal.
This looks o.k. for football in Zed. to be sure.But not so for the Tax payer.And moreover it kinda smells fishy.RB what’s goin’ on?
#16 Some of us (aka Son of Man)
You are spot on mate.People should be thinking of how we all should contribute to the development of our nation and not only should it end in just thinking but putting into action.If we all decided to contribute certain amount of money to diffrent projects in Zambia we can come up with something great.We could even start from the blog here.But before i go further how many on the blog are willing to contribute?and not only accepting and failing to fullfil but to put in the efforts required.We can build great hospitals, roads, cities etc. if we are all focused to make our nation than it is now.
#17 St Raphael’s-Maramba you are right in what you have said.See it works like this the chineese tell Zambia we could build a stadium for your country, wht do you say? the zambian government says thats what we want, chineese say ok will give you are loan, but on a condition that a chineese company will build it. So the zambian governemnt accept, it becomes a win-win situations. The chineese makes profit from the building takes there money to china, in a chineese bank, which translates to more money for government through taxes,loans etc. The zambian government gets the stadium they wanted. So is the glass half empty or half full it the way we look at it.The one who plays the pipe is the one who chooses the music but enjoyed by all.Lets look at it that way.
I was thinking the concession loan means there takes comes from what the stedium makes when fully operational such as ticket sells rentals if there will other buildings such as shops etc correct me if am wrong
Yeah!!!, let Itawa Suburb boom out!!!
Another Chinese project? They did a terrible job on the Chirundu Road? Could we have hired one of the SA companies building 2010 World Cup stadiums sure. Am sure Zambians that have lived in SA will agree with me that South Africans despite their many shortfalls, they believe in themselves and not rely on Chinese. Only where they don’t have experience do they call on those experts. The Chirundu road project should remind us that these Chinese will use cheap material to build this stadium so that they save costs. There are laughing at us and saying Zambian politicians are easy to bribe hence Mwanawasa sent Lupando Mwape as Ambassador there & we saw a lot of visits by Maureen. I tell you these people have sold us to the Chinese.
Its sad to leave out the local constructors even if we are desperate need of the ultra modern stadiums and worse still to let the money go back where it came from. Thats what it means to be economically poor where other countries take advantage of da situation.Shame on da Zed gvnt.
Locals dont have the capacity to under take such an important task.
yeah how many times is construction going to begin?
lets hope they won’t sell / privatise the stadium just after completion. i know KK would never do that becouse he has a lot of strategies but today’s leaders awe sure bwafya.