REHABILITATION works on two Government properties in Washington DC in the United States of America (USA) at a cost US$1,555,654.51 have been completed.
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda said the completion of the rehabilitations works of the properties would save country millions in foreign exchange.
The Minister who toured the newly rehabilitated official residence of the Ambassador said the quality of work done was exceptional.
The official residence was renovated at a cost of $1,334,000 while a second house was rehabilitated at a cost of $221,654.51.
According to the statement issued yesterday by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at Zambia Embassy Patricia Littiya, the two properties had never been refurbished since purchase in the early 1960’s resulting in them not being fit for habitation over the last few years and compelling government to rent property for diplomats.
The Minister and his delegation commended the contractor Shal Builders for a job well done.
The Minister also toured the Chancery building which is still under rehabilitation.
$1.5 million for rehab? How many properties would that amount have bought?? Too extravagant while people starve back home. Half of that money should have done. Who is that residence for, the Pope?.
I THOUGHT SO, THAT THE FIRST COMMENT WOULD BE A CONDEMNATION AND A “WHAT A WASTE, WHY NOT HAVE THE MONEY USED FOR SOMETHING ELSE” EXACTLY WHAT JUDAS ISCARIOT SAID ABOUT THE FINE OIL THAT THE WOMAN USED ON JESUS CHRIST… ALWAYS THINKING SPENDING MONEY BY GRZ IS A WASTE AND SHOULD BE USED ACCORDING TO THE WAY SOME INDIVIDUALS, AND NOT GRZ, THINKS IT SHOULD BE USED. SO IF YOU WERE ASKED OR GIVEN OPPORTUNITY TO DRAW UP A BUDGET FOR THAT MONEY WHAT WOULD E YOUR TO-DO-LIST WITH THE MONEY?
Did you see the house HH built for himself. Ask him how much it was. Of course you say it is his money but neither is this house for one person or for PF only, it will serve any GRZ that comes in power. ABC has said “it will save the GRZ many millions”
TED I have stopped trying. Logic does not seem to suffice for PF and UPND cadres.
People dont you understand that the PF policy is multiply times 4 times the funds required for a project so that the 3 parts go to the connector. roads are $1million per km when the cost is actually $250, 000 per km.
Ubupuba bwa ba Zambia – A league of it’s own
Shal builders will have that as a last ever project and retire.
$1.3 million in USA will demolish that house and rebuild it.
$1.3 is Trump house.
Problem pa zed u only look at kudya kwa lelo. this is why we keep failing. if the money comes back hoe and u buy mealie meal eat and go to toilet it ends, or you but what you call “properties” that still needs renovations with time, meanwhile still paying for accomodations for your various ambassadors deployed everywhere then what u accomplished? long term plans have always served well for many countries. coz u will always have an ambassador in the US regardless who comes in power.
The running costs alone for that massive house eats up any so called savings.
Look at what America built here. does it come any closer to that house you are saying “a waste of money”? now America wont have to rent any property in Zed in place of that gigantic building in ibex, imagine how much they are saving.
Do not compare America with Zambia. America has the money where Zambia is using borrowed money.
That new embassy building in Ibex Hill is nothing for Americans. They shoot missiles costing millions of dollars every day for practice. Don’t spend your money to equalize with others whose sources of income you do not understand. That’s the Zambian problem.
This is a total waste of money. This house is massive, check the builders website: shalbuilders.com
Its their largest project they have ever done.
This is silly, why didn’t you buy new properties with that lot of money
You could have bought two more properties with that money. This gvt is so extravagant and corrupt
And this is something to be proud of ….when US$1,555,654.51 can be used to equip all our ZP officers with a glock and a walkie talkie back home!!
With US$1.5 million, they could have crashed the old structure and build a new one and still remain with change. I would estimate that it would cost US$750,000 to build such luxury house in downtown Washington DC. We look forward to the audit report.
I 2nd that. I think that would have been a smarter move. Think of a 1960s chevy. I mean u can put a new engine, transmission, seats, tires etc but it still not as good as new.
On top of that who is paying the mortgage, utilities, heat, hydro etc? We are very superficial people. Unless we have people who have brains and can rent out the rooms and lease out the space for expensive diplomatic functions. Abena Zambia always wanting to live beyond their means. Showing off is all they do. Even the diplomats who go abroad come with that ukuyumfwa mentality while most Zambian’s ignore. Stolen money yet they boast like there’s no tomorrow. I remember when Ba Nevers was in North America! Ukuyumfwa like he was God! But now back in Zed trying to hold on to the little power he has.
Because the Americans and other western countries diplomats live in plush surroundings, zambians have to follow suite.
Its good use of funds if it were legitimately done at that cost but were there ever a discussion of selling the old and buying a new one? Short of demolishing a house and starting afresh a rehab will always have problems.
Standard costing for roads in SADC region is about $250, 000 and falls to about $180, 000 in North Africa. However, for Zambia and DRC its a bit different because of their peculiar terrain. Zambia is made up of about 45% water and the rest is sandy, swampy, mountainous terrain. This requires bridge on average every 5.0 Km. The final costs depends on the work involved like, Surveying, Clearing and Piling, Earthwork, Finish Grading, Surfacing, Drainage.
Kalabo-Mongu road involved piling mostly. However, the average cost per kilometer and general construction rates are too high and need to be justified as to why too much money should be expended that way even if it is borrowed money.
Utter nonsense you think the whole of Zambia is covered in a swamp!!
People are dying at UTH because of lack of equipment and you spend that much? Rich Zambia
If i was able to advice. I wud have asked the authourities to insteady contract a zambian company with good references to do the job at a better rate than this. its like you earn k10,000 and rent a house at K8, 000. Where are you headind to? We zambians are crap sometimes…the degrees and diplomas you flash dont seem to help the nation at all.