Thursday, March 28, 2024

You’re on your own now,Hostels Board told

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Works and Supply Minister, Mike Mulongoti
Works and Supply Minister, Mike Mulongoti

WORKS and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti has announced a cut financial support to all lodges under his ministry because they have the capacity to generate their own income.

“This is the last time that you will be supported by my ministry. I have seen individuals with only one lodge and they are surviving but you have 10 lodges. I warned the Hotels Board the last time we were budgeting that I am cutting their budget because they have the capacity to generate their own income. This is a timely warning that this is the last year,” he said

Mr Mulongoti said the lodges must generate money so that Government receives dividends form them and that these should be declared at the start of the next financial year (2011).

Government has spent K2.7 billion in the rehabilitation and construction of facilities at the Livingstone Lodge which comprises a conference room, deluxe executive suite and 11 executive rooms.

The second phase the project will involve the building of a one storey building that will have 20 rooms.
Mr Mulongoti said this yesterday when he commissioned the new Livingstone Lodge.
The Minister was accompanied by his deputy Dr Christopher Kalila and permanent secretary Watson Ng’ambi.

He said time the Hostels Board should no longer depend on government for financial support.
He challenged the National Hostels Board to venture into constructing a five-star hotel instead of being comfortable with lodges.

Mr Mulongoti encouraged the Hostels Board to go into partnerships with other investors.
He said that since its inception in 1957, the board has had only seven hostels that were left by the colonial government, and three that have been constructed since.

“I want one day, either President Rupiah Banda or myself be able to commission a five-star hotel before we continue quarreling with our competitive sector we are in. You know we have too many vuvuzelas (critics) who are always refusing to acknowledge what are doing. This is one of the developments,” he said.
He urged the staff and management to work hard in their lodges throughout the country in order to win consumer confidence and attract clients.

Mr Mulongoti said the challenge for the Hostels Board is not only to uphold high standards but to also market the lodge and ensure that it competes favourably with other such facilities in Livingstone.
And Livingstone District Commissioner Francis Chika said tourism has proved to be the main foreign exchange earner in many countries and that Zambia should strive to do so too.

“We have as a nation not approached tourism with the aggression it deserves. Investing in this sector is not easily accessed especially for Zambians hence the need for a total review of requirements and procedures for one to venture into tourism,” he said.

Mr. Chika commended Government for supporting the tourism sector and the agricultural sector through the fertilizer support programme.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

13 COMMENTS

  1. “You know we have too many vuvuzelas (critics) who are always refusing to acknowledge what are doing. This is one of the developments,” he said.
    He urged the staff and management to work hard in their lodges throughout the country in order to win consumer confidence and attract clients.”

    I agree with this. The Hostels Board must be competitive and independent to ensure that it brings the best quality in the industry. Competition brings efficiency in the industry.

  2. Window dressing!! You will go to prison genuinely for corruption in your ministry you political tick!! Not like Mpombo!!!

  3. So long over due. These hostels should have been independent and self supporting from inception. Anyway, this is the first sencible thing you have said since you became minister ka Mulongoti.

  4. these lodges are doing a good service as they offer decent accommo, security and fair prices. indeed ba mulongoti let them stand on their own give them autonomy as long as they are not run down. push them to come up with a five star arrangement they have enough space for expansion

  5. once they are completely financialy independent I hope these same politicians wont be staying there on credit that they never honor just because ni va boma. They are the same chaps that cause these government institutions to collapse in the first place by abusing them.

  6. #5kwahae THATS ALL YOU TALK ABOUT THEFT. WHY DONT YOU BRING OUT FACTS OR REPORT THE THIEVES TO POLICE. YOUR MIND IS PREOCCUPIED WITH STEALING AND YOU SEE NOTHING GOOD. ANY DEVELOPMENTAL STRUCTURE IS THEFT. YOU MUST BE A PF BLIND FOLLOWER,

  7. Hey, is that Christopher Eubank, one-time Lord of the Manor of Brighton as well as the rings?
    He quit boxing to become Works and Supply Minister in Zambia? Where are his trademark monocle and cane?

  8. Mulongoti, You have always earned a bad name from me. This time Mudala, you are spot on. Very rite. The problem is Politicians and senior Govt officials abuse these facilities, use them without paying for the services. It’s true most of them were built in the collonial era, they have recouped their investiments. But look at them now, still not improving. Thats the problem.

  9. Ba LT Ka Flag, yashani iyi Ndi Mu Zambia, Ku Ndola Kafulafuta area campaigning for the upcoming Bye-election since Mpombo to be fired from MMD!! Well Mulongoti in fact remove the monetory support from them NOW not next year. Just support them with Govt seminars be held there and pay them promptly. Why let them waste money until next year. This was Long overdue. It was supposed to be taken in 1974.

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