Wed, 26 Oct 2016 10:30:37 +0000
MINISTER of Works and Supply Ronald Chitotela informed Parliament yesterday the construction and modernisation of the the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport has created over 1, 000 skilled and unskilled jobs for Zambians. Mr Chitotela said the project only had 187 Chinese nationals of whom 135 were specialized staff. In a ministerial statement, he said the number of Zambians employed was expected to increase as the works progressed.
Mr Chitotela explained that the modernisation of the KKIA was a design and build project, adding that a tender was awarded to China Jiangxi Corporation for International and Economic and Technical Corporation at a contract sum of $360 million. She said the $360 million contract sum was a loan obtained from China by the Zambian government to modernise and expand the airport.
“The overall progress for the whole project currently stands at 33 percent complete. The project is on schedule and my ministry will closely monitor progress to ensure that the project is completed within schedule,” he said Meanwhile, first deputy speaker Catherine Namugala directed Mr Chitotela to come back to the House and give a detailed financial report of the project.
This was after Kabompo West UPND Member of Parliament Ambrose Livuma took him (Chitotela) to task over the interest rate of the $360 million loan obtained from China. Mr Chitotela acknowledged that he had no figures at his fingertips, adding that it was the Ministry of Finance responsible for interpreting and explaining the interest rates. But Ms Namugala was compelled to issue a directive to Mr Chitotela to come back on later date and give a detailed financial report of the project.
