Chief Mumena of the Kaonde speaking people has lauded the Lobito Corridor project, highlighting it as a vision for stronger partnerships and sustainable growth benefiting both investors and the people of Zambia particularly North-Western Province and those along the corridor.
Chief Mumena, who was represented by Business Development Manager Robert Sakutaha, was speaking during a panel of discussion at the EU-ZAMBIA Lobito corridor business forum.
Chief Mumena emphasised the vital role of chiefdoms, in driving development for all citizens.
He urged investors interested in the corridor to create opportunities that generate value for the local communities, stressing that ordinary people should not be sidelined in the region’s transformative journey.
Earlier, in her opening statement at the same event, Karolina Stasiak, Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Zambia and COMESA, who acknowledged the challenges of mobilising private finance for public projects, noted that public-private collaborations can deliver significant economic and social benefits.
Ms Stasiak narrated that the EU stands ready to support Zambia and its partners through dialogue, that builds cities that are not only sustainable, but well connected, and inclusive.
She highlighted that a team of experts has been working on identifying investment opportunities in a number of cities along the planned Lobito Corridor in Zambia.
“Their findings will help us better understand where the needs and opportunities lie, and how we can work together to address them,” she narrated.
CEO and Lead Specialist for Urban Finance and Infrastructure, Aloysius Bongwa, presented the findings of the human settlement Investment along the Lobito Corridor, noting there is a need for cities along the corridor to develop systematically.
Mr Bongwa emphasised that if the cities along the project develop in a chaotic manner they won’t be able to provide the support that is needed for the corridor.
“The corridor also needs to provide something to the cities in terms of building up infrastructure, job creation and skills development,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ministry of infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, Assistant Director for Urban Development, Mulenga Mutale, noted that the Lobito corridor project has come at the right time to promote social inclusivity as well as economic growth within the region, noting that it aligns with the country’s national development plan in terms of well-planned settlements.
I certainly hope so as at the moment equal benifits is really topsided in favour of those ………… !
His loyal highness, you are great