PRESIDENT Banda says the welfare of defence forces and security personnel is critical to the smooth running of Government and maintenance of peace.
Mr Banda said this in Lusaka on April 1 at the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of 4,527 houses for the Zambia Air Force (ZAF), Zambia Army, Zambia National Service (ZNS) and Office of the President (Special Division).
He said for a long time now, Government has been grappling with the challenge of providing adequate and decent housing to accommodate defence and security personnel.
“This challenge has been growing for a long time such that it has become critical. It is with pride and joy that I commission the first phase of the construction of houses,” Mr Banda said.
The houses will be built in Lusaka, Kabwe and Mufulira at a total cost of US$430 million.
Mr Banda said upon completion, the problem of inadequate housing for defence and security services will ease.
The construction will also reduce the burden of paying rentals for officers and release resources for other equally important requirements in the defence and security wings.
Mr Banda thanked the Chinese government for facilitating the contract for the construction of houses by China National Machinery Industry Corporation (SINOMACH), which the President hopes will complete the important project on time.
He told defence and security personnel that the project will not solve all accommodation difficulties, but it is a good start.
“I wish to assure you that your government will continue to source funds to construct more houses as government is aware that more accommodation is needed to meet the needs of all defence and security units.
“I am confident that another phase of this programme will start in the not so distant future so that as many officers as possible are properly accommodated,” he said.
Earlier Minister of Defence Kalombo Mwansa said there is no doubt that government is working hard on infrastructure development countrywide.
Dr Mwansa said as a response to the challenge of inadequate housing for defence and security wings, government has signed a contract with SINOMACH to construct houses in various defence and security cantonments.
He said the contract will be funded from both local and external resources.
“It is important that officers, men and women who have dedicated their lives to the service of their country, must enjoy dedicated services for them to apply themselves fully to their tasks,” Dr Mwansa said.
The breakdown of the housing units is: Lusaka West -Zambia Army (2,830), Twin Palms -ZAF (1,001), Makeni -ZNS (105), Waterfalls Lusaka East -OP (191), Chindwin Barracks Kabwe-Zambia Army (275), and Tung Up Barracks, Mufulira-Zambia Army (125).
And Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Qiangmin said the project is an important achievement of President Banda’s visit to China last year.
“This reflects the increasing political mutual trust between our two nations and shows the spirit of mutual benefit,” Mr Li said.
He said Zambia is a model of peace and stability in southern Africa and that the country’s defence forces play an important role in peace building.
Mr Li said China is hopeful that during construction, SINOMACH will follow the contract, respect local laws and the people.
“In the meantime, we hope the local authority will continue to support this project. The Chinese Embassy in Zambia is willing to work together with the Zambian government to provide for the project,” he said.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
VERY GOOD CAMPAIGN STRATEGY FOR RUPIAH BANDA. All of a sudden US$430 million has been found to build houses for defence forces. Mind you they are not the only voters. Also build houses for nurses, teachers, and many other civil workers. UKUTAMFWA LUNSHI PAMAFI, KUNYA APENGI. NOT UKUSHIKA IYO. You are missing it RB and your minions
This will not stop PF from wining the 2011 election. Ba RB even if you build houses for the 13million plus people in Zambia you will still lose the election. What a poor capaign strategy. This will anger a lot other government workers like teachers, nurses, policemen, etc. The so called generals also wants change. Are you going to build houses for general’s relatives also? Ifwe nipa bwato.
Ombre peter ngosa its the defence force,s time to benefit on the housing project.and about your fly arrangement you got it from that Kusokoneza iyzi zed song.LT precedence in the Defence Forces prevails so its Army,AirForce,Police,ZNS and “maybe” OP.
This way, RB our vote is Pankoloko ! Chwechwechwechwe !!!!
Only a foolish soldier will buy this rubbish gimmick
PF cadres, now you are telling us that PF will not build houses for anybody in case it is accused of campaigning. MMD started with the police now it is the military. All these things are in the MMD government’s Sixth National Development Plan, this document is a practical translation of the MMD manifesto.
We are tired of PF empty headed politicking. Please keep to your political rallies, and we shall keep to our development agenda.
6 H.H. Sata MMD Kabova we know that RB is just camapaigning and he will abandon this so called project soon after elections.We know he wants surity from security wings that should the opposition win he refuse to hand over power with their help
This is not a surprising issue and these strategies have been used before, I expect more pronouncements of developmental projects from the MMD government before the president announces the election date, we will see a lot of such events taking place. It is a pity that they always try to please the people at the last minute. I hope the proclaimed project will not be forgotten soon after the elections regardless of who wins.
Every week there are meetings and explanations of the “importance of peace” in the military camps. We call it the “gut feeling”; which basically means that RB has smelled that defence forces are determined to get him out if PF fails. Soldiers know it, and they have been ready for over 3 years. We know it, and those 100houses will make no difference, although its a good move for them. Because of elections, am sure they are paying 4 times the normal cost; add the cost of borrowing; debts will stuck up so easily, and PF will be given a poisoned challice!! Why give a chinese firm to build houses when unemployment is 80%? Ba some of us!!
Let us include the police too. It has been a long time since we saw housing construction in camps. (KK era). Schools need more too.
Pleasing soldiers like Mugabe can work in zambia . Start the project. In fact its govt money. then we shall prosecute you like RICHARD SAKALA over PHI
Mugabe formula of appeasing soldiers wont work in Zambia.
#7, the hallucinations of Deja Vu have no match.
# 13 the blind scophancy of HH Sata has no match either-well maybe apart from the likes of S.Citizen.
This sounds like a political move. Soldiers are suffering in Kaoma. The soldiers there live in mad houses. Why build the said houses only alone the cities?
Means that each house will cost about USD95,000 to build. I think that this is too costly and is a result of fixin prices to benefit RB. I would suggest that a tender for the project be launched and international companies such as Robert and murrey, Big 5, Costain, etc are invited instead of ever relying on Chinese firms whose quality construction methods are suspect.