The government has signed three key strategic Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects, including a concession with Mulungushi University which will see enhanced student accommodation, a health facility and other infrastructure worth over 248 million United States Dollars.
Other projects include the 83 million United States Dollars Chirundu Border Auxiliary Infrastructure and the 140 million United States Dollars Kimiswalo Border and Road Projects in Solwezi, both designed to enhance the country’s trade facilitation.
Minister of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Musokotwane, emphasised that Public-Private Partnership projects are vital in complementing national development efforts, noting that all three concessionaires are locally owned.
The Minister made these remarks during the signing ceremony of the concession agreements in Lusaka today, in a speech read on his behalf by Minister of Tourism Rodney Sikumba.
Dr Musokotwane highlighted that the government and the private sector have taken a deliberate approach to developing public infrastructure as well as improving services by blending public policy goods alongside PPP financing efficiency.
Speaking at the same event, Minister of Commerce Trade and Industry, Chipoka Mulenga, expressed that the Chirundu Border Infrastructure is a critical brown field busiest gateway in the region and beyond citing that the existing infrastructure upgrade is timely as it will enhance trade by addressing long term bottlenecks that hinders efficiency.
He notes that the Chirundu Border and other infrastructure being developed will contribute to the government’s call of a 24-hour economy.
Mr Mulenga reiterated governments commitment to development at all levels following township roads being built alongside the border infrastructure to improve living conditions of people.
Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, Charles Milupi, highlighted that when the government creates an enabling environment investment flows for the benefit of the people and country as a whole.
He has since called for timeliness and efficiency during construction of the three projects calling on relevant authorities like the Road Development Agency (RDA) to ensure monitoring of these projects is done.
Minister of Education, Douglas Syakalima, said that developments to be done at Mulungushi University Southern and Central Province Campuses reflects the government’s commitment to education.
Mulungushi University Vice Chancellor, Professor Royson Mukwena, thanked the government for the over 248 million United States Dollars Concessionaires noting that this will enable the school to bring a lasting solution to their accommodation and facility challenges by providing 19 000 bed spaces.
ZMART Chirundu Borderlink Limited, Chief Executive Officer, Jignesh Prafulchandra Soni notes that his organisation shares the government’s vision to make Zambia a landlocked country.
He disclosed that the Chirundu Border will include a 10 kilometer road, job creation, a market, a school, 30 Chirundu border staff houses among other infrastructure development projects.
Kimiswalo Construction Limited Director, Raymond Walubita, says the establishment of the road project that borders the Democratic Republic of Congo, is essential in enhancing economic growth in Zambia and that country.
Meanwhile, Swift Safety Concessionaires Limited, Director, Sydney Ngoma, said the 25-year partnership in the construction of university school accommodation into centre of excellence as well as smart infrastructure Public Private Partnership financing has not been taken for granted.
Dr Ngoma further added that this will provide an opportunity for prosperity, pledging commitment to support the government’s goal for a better future.
