CHIPATA TO CREATE 15 000 JOBS

Fri, 16 Feb 2018 13:42:32 +0000

By ALFRED TEMBO

 UPGRADING of Chipata to city status has triggered transformation of the provincial capital into a trade and commerce hub with civic leaders projecting 15 000 jobs to be created before year end.

The development is anchored on new growth prospects indicated by constant inflow of potential investors to an existing list of confirmed financiers whose projects are already underway.

According to the city council some of the confirmed investments include the constructions of a tractor assembling plant, thermo-plant, solar power plant in Chipangali and Musekela Junction Industrial Park among other projects.

Mayor Sinoya Mwale told the Daily Nation in an interview yesterday that progression of the metropolis is expected to position the provincial capital into a major contributor to government coffers.

He said the city had long waited for investment which will see Chipata rising on the rankings as the country’s ultra-modern multi-million dollar investments industrial port.

“Declaration of Chipata into a city came when we were ready, but such development comes at a cost, in addition to new duties and restructuring of existing plans.

“But regardless of demands associated with the changes, we are managing to contain these challenges, by systematically registering all the new and overwhelming investment into the city without difficulties,” said Mr. Mwale.

He said some of the investments that have since been evaluated and are expected to resume, include a new animal feed production plant at a cost of $450million, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) $59million, a thermo plant $350million.

And an additional list of investment whose final cost are yet to be established comprises Zambia Co-operatives Federation’s milling plant, a railway line from Chipata to Mpika running through Petauke and a Multi-Facility Economic Zone (MFEZ).