Lungu directs govt to move the US$10m Lunsemfwa Dam project

Sun, 18 Jun 2017 17:25:37 +0000

By OSCAR MALIPENGA
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has directed ministers of agriculture Dora Siliya and water and sanitation minister Lloyd Kaziya to find a solution to the misunderstand surrounding the investment of U$S10 million Upper Lunsemfwa dam project in Mkushi district.
The directive follows refusal by Zambia Environmental Management Authority (ZEMA) and the Water Resource Management Authority (WARMA) to approve the investment.
Speaking during a meeting at State House yesterday, President Lungu encouraged the investor and his two cabinet ministers to resolve their concerns as soon as possible through a round table meeting on Monday.
Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda briefed journalists after the meeting that the purpose was to find a solution to the investment of the U$S10 million Upper Lusemfwa Dam in Mkushi, Central Province.
Mr. Chanda said President Lungu has since left the matter in the hands of Ms Siliya and her counterpart Mr. Kaziya to handle it. Upper Lusemfwa dam project chairman Costein Chilala said the promoters decided to seek President Lungu’s intervention after ZEMA refused to approve the project.
He told journalists after the closed-door meeting that President Lungu had directed the promoters and cabinet ministers responsible to resolve the matter by tomorrow.
Mr. Chilala said the dam which would now cost slightly above U$S 10 million was a multipurpose to irrigate the Mukushi farming block and employ many youths.