Labour and Social Security Minister Joyce Nonde Simukoko has expressed satisfaction with the progress of works made at the Edgar Chagwa Lungu Mall (ECL) in Kitwe.
Mrs. Simukoko toured the project on Friday to have an appreciation of the current state of the project, which started in September 2016.
“It gives me pleasure to tour the ECL Business Park comprising the Shopping mall, Hotel, Convention Centre and Offices and to see great progress made to date from my last visit,” she said.
Mrs. Simukoko added that the Patriotic Front Government through the Ministry of Labour and Social Security revised NAPSA’s investment policy and guidelines to enable the scheme undertake real estate investments responsive to the needs of the Zambian economy.
She noted that, by constructing ECL Business Park, it was evident that the scheme was serving as a developmental vehicle for the country as a whole and Kitwe in particular Mrs. Simukoko further said that it was gratifying to note that many jobs had been created during the construction and significant number of permanent jobs would be created once the project was completed.
“I am very happy, to see that the quality of works on the two projects is excellent and that both projects will be delivered within the project budgets hence without cost over- runs,” she remarked.
Mrs. Simukoko commended both NAPSA and the two project teams for the good work done so far.
And NAPSA Director General Mr. Yollard Kachinda said he was happy with the commitment of the contractors and had no doubt that the whole project would be completed on schedule in readiness for commissioning by October 2018.
He assured the Minister that his team was working around the clock to ensure the project was completed as planned, adding that the development would transform the city of Kitwe for better.
“The law allows us to continue to invest in projects. This country requires a lot of infrastructure development and we are there to partner with government and develop the country. I can safely say that after this project certainly we will have other projects coming up within Copperbelt and beyond.” Mr. Kachinda said.
The Minister also took time to interact with workers whom she encouraged to continue working hard in the interest of developing the country.
The Minister was accompanied by the Labour Commissioner, Mr. Chanda Kaziya, NAPSA Director General, Mr.Yollard Kachinda and Workers Compensation Fund Control Board Commissioner, Mrs. Elizabeth Nkumbula among others.
Abena Joyce is a spent force.
we need FACTORIES not malls which stock south african products thus creating jobs for Xenophobic south africans. Even the salt will be south african Cerebos salt “see how it runs”.
PF00Lish govt is the biggest mistake Zambia has ever made. A mistake bigger than UNIP & MMD put together.
We need clear legislation on naming projects financed with public money. How can a money who stole money from a widow and subsequently debarred deserve such an honour, only in Zambia!
NOT VERY SMART!
1. ZAMBIA REQUIRES FACTORIES WHICH ADD VALUE TO OUR RESOURCES
2. MALLS JUST PROVIDE OUTLETS FOR SOUTH AFRICAN PRODUCTS
3. JUST ASK HOW MUCH WORKERS AT MALLS GET YOU’LL GET SHOCKED: MINIMUM WAGES WHICH ARE VERY VERY LOW
4. IF FOR EVERY MALL BUILT WE COULD DEMAND TWO FACTORIES THEN THAT WOULD BE PROGRESS
5. CHINA THEN DEMANDS TECHNOLOGICAL TRANSFERS WITH THE FOREIGN-OWNED FACTORIES!!
There aren’t enough malls. More are needed. Infact every residential area should have one like in the South Africa you hunker in. Otherwise you have street vending which is dis-organised, disease borne and untaxable income. Many Zambians are supplying vegetables to the malls now rather than markets and immediately they are paid, ZRA is notified.
Stop this ranting carp that we don’t need malls. Lots of factories are also being opened which sell their products in the malls. The grocery shelves now have more Zambian goods out pricing the imported SA goods
The name is a complete turn off…not a good idea for business. Lungu is not popular and he hasn’t done anything for Zambia.The only thing that he has done is to enrich himself. And do people really buy things at these malls or just going there to loiter and take pictures for Facebook
Absolutely nothing wrong with naming public assets after public figures or indeed citizens of choice. In the USA where i studied and lived for many years, following public properties are named after Presidents as done some after Civil Rights icons, Politicians, Aviators, Artists, Researchers, military official such as:
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) – New York, New York
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) – Houston, Texas
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) – Washington, DC
Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) – Grand Rapids, Michigan
Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (SPI) – Springfield, Illinois
Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) – Little Rock, Arkansas
Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) – Wichita,…
Our friends in the US whose system of rules we have copied don’t have everyone of their presidents as exclusive trademarks to be named after stadiums, airports, shopping malls, hospitals etc. They also acknowledge other citizens. The mall could have been named after Prof Mwauluka, first Zambia airways black Captain Mulundika, Godfrey Chitalu, Moses Simwala, Peter Kaumba, Kenneth Malitoli ,most of them Kitwe products. Why are politicians dominating all our heritage? They are desperate to be worshipped! That’s the only reason
……
Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport (DIK) – Dickinson, North Dakota
Jimmy Carter Regional Airport (ACJ) in Americus,
Countless Battle ships are after public figure such as John Adams to George Bush.
Aircraft carrier after United States Representative Carl Vinson
The Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles
Ronald Reagan Federal Building and Courthouse in Santa Ana
George Bush TurnPike (Highway 161 in the DFW, Texas)
Martin Luther King, Jr has many Blvds named after him in. – various cities
George Balanchine Way – New York City
Sam Cooke Way – Chicago, IL
Tupac Lane named after Tupac– Las Vegas, NV
Peter Jennings Way – New York City
Say you what…….
Lets start honoring our very own icons stead of just pandering to Cecil John Rhodes and his demons…
@1.6….. ba senior something naimwe tu logik twenu, tulapapusha. there is wisdom in keep quiet if ve nothing to say
When the economic collapse, it’s gonna be mall rooting like the 1986 food rooting I’m proud to have participated in.
Naming a mall after a Malawan and not only that, What has EL done to deserve that.
That’s how we run this country … in 2011 I pushed for NAPSA and Workman’s Thrifts to use the excess cash on their balance sheets for developmental purposes and the rest is history.
We are still waiting for the formation of a Zambia Development Bank out of ZESCO. This company’s liquidity can rival small banks and its about time we turned that into developing factories and industries led by the smart people of the Zambian Enterprise.
Let’s roll …
It should read Edgar’s Shopping mall
PLEASE, PLEASE RENAME THIS MALL TO THE AREA IN WHICH IT’S BUILT. TO NAME IT ECL MALL IS SIMPLY AN INSULT TO THE PEOPLE! REST-ASSURED THAT IT WILL BE SO RENAMED, SOME DAY IN THE FUTURE, IF THIS ADVICE IS NOT HEEDED NOW. THE SO-CALLED ECL DOES NOT DESERVE ANYTHING TO BE NAMED AFTER HIM. MARK MY WORDS!!!!
@senior citizen you read my post but you didn’t get the message.
@ 1.12 B R Mumba, Sr
Imaginative trial and error PF style economics!
Ok, good ideas ba PF not lyonse ati “foreign investors” efya.bupuba chabe. Which country can empower its people through handing everything over to foreigners? So this is good. Lets emphasis Zambians first, even when it comes to renting the mall out.
I nearly thought I was looking at the fabled TALU mall in Uganda, looks impressive
What a moronic name for a mall. It’s like calling it ‘Failure Mall’
Even the ugly design is moronic -it looks like an industrial warehouse.
Kwena MWe! Fyonse ifyo twapanga kupela ba ntamba lukuta?
How about Buchi Mall? Kamitondo mall? Wusakile Mall? These names are associated with Kitwe
Even the artists impression shows that it will be a white elephant. 90% of the parking lot is empty!
A country full of malls that mostly sells imported products coz of zero local manufacturing industries adds no value to the economy of a country
True Dudelove, the sad part is we Zambians cannot afford to buy from these malls as all our money is taken by ZRA
The reality is that these malls are always packed. Lusaka had manda hill and arcades but makeni, levy, east park, waterfalls etc have popped up and are also packed. And investors are still lining up to build more!! It seems you can’t afford to buy from the malls because you are lazy bums. Even successful marketeers, micro and small business owners are always at these malls. Muchili munwa chibuku???
Mulefwaya street vending, selling under tree. Let’s give credit where it’s due.
Zambian Citizen, am not talking about the population kuma malls ba PF cadre, am talking about manufacturing industries. Goodness.
I am sure once Edgar lungu vacates office the name of the shopping mall will be changed.
There is no street, monument or statue in Cuba named after the late Fidel Castro, and yet he transformed Cuban society in terms of free medical care, free education despite the American sanctions which have been in place for the last 50 plus years.
But in Africa one wants his name, picture on school text books, bicycles, even house window panes now.
Levy park?? The Europeans, Americans and Japanese have streets, institutions, and places named after their heroes, prominent figures and politicians. And here you come, colonised, calling it primitive because it is in Africa??? People like you are an example of what colonisation set out to do: Everything African is bad. Everything white is good. What a shame!!!
The Mall’s name will definitely be changed.How do you name a mall built after retirees benefits,after someone whose government went to parliament to block payment of retirees?It pains me each time i see those teachers at Woodlands A Primary School retired and unpaid. Some of them taught me and am now 48,but they are still waiting for their benefits. Ridiculous.
PLEASE no!
Shopping malls are for exporting money to South Africa for cheap jobs
We need FACTORIES AND MORE FACTORIES
AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER TO ZAMBIANS
Don’t say “we need factories…” , say “I am opening a factory…” Grade 12 level Indians and Lebanese are opening factories all the time, you want some magical force to start gifting you already made factories??? Get off your backside, stop complaining and pointing fingers and act!!!
We will reverse all the names on these malls he has brought nothing but problems in the country this is poor planning 100 malls with people not having money to shop with.
They even insult the same citizens who are financially hard up as a result of their incompetence in managing affairs ati they are lazy.We shall remember when voting.Mwanawasa did not steal he created a thriving economy and he did not insult us.We did not complain either because the economy was thriving.
Let Kambwili comment on this later and will give it a name….mark my words.
What’s better to have 100 malls at least employing Zambians earning minimum wage or have a lot unemployed. Why don’t those against setting up of malls come and set up industries themselves! Don’t just criticise participate in the industrialization of mother Zambia.
Industrialisation means building industries you dum dum. How many industries compared to malls has this dull govt overseen?
Dudelove kikiki ati ‘ you dum dum ‘. My sides hurt right now. You just made my day.
Stupid f00l.No one starts business with their bank balances they go to banks,We are running away from banks because of the cost of borrowing thanks to useless PF.
This is your pension money being wasted by Napsa…to add insult to injury you named it after lazy visionless Lungu.
What happens when you don’t insult our President?
@jay jay YOU ARE PATHETIC
WHAT HAVE YOU EVER DONE?
The dear leader of UPND is the one in the forefront of investing in malls and he has even been bragging about it. So, if Zambian businessmen like Hakainde do not invest in manufacturing who is going to do it, foreigners?? Zambia has a population of just about 15 million and most companies would rather set up manufacturing plants in big markets like Ethiopia, Kenya etc. But what have done as Zambians, nothing except for a few Indians and Lebanese.
WELL WISHER – Where have I insulted your President? And I will back it up…being President is not achievement its what you do that matters for your people not put them in debt.
What is there to be proud of? Small countries like Botswana are winning medals at the Commonwealth games, you are boasting of building shopping malls!
Shopping malls are not development -just an outlet for makwerekwere products.And in this age of e-commerce + street vending its quite counter productive.
Consttucting more shopping Malls in an indicator of economic and social development proving that we have a ready market for local and foreign goods and services. It also confirms that Zambians earn income and have purchasing power because of good economic policies by the government. It does not matter who leads the govt because it is collective responsibility of all responsible Zambians who appreciate. Wait for the time when government will spend more money on soldiers and Police to beat you up during civil war if your hatred for the President leads to civil strife, then you will recall these prosperous and peaceful times. factories only come after laying good economic and social foundation such as now
We need more of industrial parks were innovation and creativity can be developed….that will drive those nice shopping malls which will not support the zambian majority but the foreigners.
Kiki ati we need industrial parkd. Govt has created economic zones for you to establish those industrues what are you still waiting for. The problem with some educated fellows is that they want to be employed upon graduation. Noooooo baba that qualification is collateral which can help you access funding and start doing business. I ve never done a job hunt. When i was in zambia i employed 196 people 14 years ago. Rushing to be employed when you have a degree is devaluing and limiting your success. Why not gain the advantage of the economic zones to establish your grounds. Write a project proposal and get the lian from the banks. Mind you , business is best run by banks so dont be scared of contracting a loan .
@Oval: That’s what a lot of the bloggers above and Zambians in general don’t get. They have this notion that some messiah president will come one day and industrialise the country. They forget that it is themselves, as individuals, who have to set up those industries. Which government helped Trade Kings, Aquasavanna, Sobi, Lamasat etc set up those industries???
Abena Oval … couldn’t have said it better. These guys have no understanding of what development is, let alone the real drivers of actual development.
Every industrialized country started with individual entrepreneurs who saw an opportunity and seized it. We have too many job seekers and very few opportunity seekers.
We need a paradigm shift in our thought processes. I used to tell my friends that whatever it is you are looking for is not found in the state of Texas. You can only find it in your state of mind!!!
Our state of mind is the only vehicle to lead us to prosperity and wealth. Sancho once more …
The honest fact is, Lungu adds no value to our country. Believe it or not, it is what it is!
…. and what value have you added to zambia. The fact that Zambia is not at war is value enough because you have the peace and freedom to do anything even forming a company and make money for yourself. There’s no country where a president will put money or food in peoples mouths ..big fat noòoo. Peace and freedom are valuable assets you should treasure. Let people with brains grab this value and you under5s can continue waiting for your messiah.
is that her job now..when many people have their labour laws’ complaints..chipantepante sure!!
I have a dream that one day, these malls will be tuned into industries or factories of things like TVs, computers, razor blades, needles,toys etc!
It will remain a dream
..why labour minister inspecting infrastructure but there is a minister in charge of that area….nonsense
Normally, significant things are named after someone who has been significant and has moved on. But we are naming a mere shopping mall (that we probably don’t need – in comparison to actually initiating industries) after someone who is still in power and has not achieved anything meaningful. By the way, the buying power is only in the repository of a few – mainly corrupt politicians, their side kicks, ‘infestors’ and dealers.
@Zambian Citizen is already exhibiting his usual juvenile baseless over excitement. Shops have already been closing at some of these malls due to lack of business or out of reach rentals. This is not criticism for it’s own sake. It is about developmental priorities in a nation that needs create real jobs from value adding industries.
@Muna: You cannot convince me over things I see daily and not depend on what useless websites like ZWD or your bitter relatives tell you. Ofcourse some businesses are relocating and not CLOSING. Reality is Zambians have significant disposable income which they are able to spend at these malls, not your rhetoric about only people connected to PF. So who do you think will open those industries, GRZ??? Why can’t you leave your comfort zone there and lead by example and shame those you criticise daily by opening a factory???
Ubu ebupa. And some fooolishness can be contagious. Sadly, ifipuba pa Zambia they’ve multiplied. Who in their absolute normal sense builds a mall as a nation asset? Net on the list for Lungu will be building churches for tithe and ubupe for the government. These guys are bankrupt in ideas. Where are the 500,000 jobs? In the malls? This is the true meaning of having a Chakolwa at the helm. This will be a PF Mall which only PF cadres will put utuntemba. Sad.
….eiiish!!! The bitterness??? Ba PF ba likulila gelo???
I don’t understand why a public property should be named after a serving President. It only makes sense to name a property after a prominent person has left office and the nation is showing appreciation for the great service rendered to the nation. Are we already appreciating Edgar Lungu for the ‘great service he is rendering’ to the nation or by virtue of him being the current President?
name it LOTTIE MWALE or something else
And so is the multi million dollar TALU (Tasila Lungu) Mall that Avic is building for Edgar Lungu in Kampala!! The question begs what could gthe source of funding for the projects if not corruptly secured funds stolen from the Zambian people.
How about Freedom park Mall, nice and catchy name and the mall itself is actually built at freed park. not ati Edgar Chagwa Lungu Mall.
* Freedom Park
UMUFWYASHI NGA AFWA ELYO MWA PYANIKA UBUNONSHI BWABUPYANI TABABUBONFYA BWINO, ILINGININE TABWIKALA, NAPALI ICHO NGA TWA MONA PAMITEKELE IYA BONSE BAKATEKA ABAISHILE MUNSHILA YABUPYANI, KUTI MWAMONA IMIBOMBELE YABO PANTU CHILYA CHIFULO TABACHETEKELE ATI BAKABAPO.
TRANSLATED
MOST TIME WHEN A PERSON DIES AND SOMEONE ELSE TAKES OVER THE WEALTH OF THE DECEASED IN MOST INSTANCES THAT WEALTH IS NORMALLY MISUSED EVEN ON PRESIDENCY WHEN YOU HAVE PRESIDENTS WHO TAKE OVER AS A RESULT OF THE DEATH OF THE INCUMBENT THEY TEND NOT TO HAVE A VISION BECAUSE THAT PRESIDENCY WAS NOT PLANNED FOR AND AS SUCH THEY DO NOT NORMALLY HAVE THE RIGHT CAMPUS TO LEAD THE COUNTRY AND MOST TIMES THEY ARE WASTEFUL WITH NO VISION FOR THE MAJORITY WHOM THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO SERVE.
Ni shopping mall ya nyoko? What’s wrong with the name ECL? Naiwe, become president, maybe we shall name a chimbuzi after you. Stop sweating the president. He is a good man. He has his own mistakes just like any other munthu on the planet. But stop heating him unnecessarily.
Its a stup!d name mune. It represents failure.