Govt focused on infrastructure development – Chitotela

Wed, 14 Feb 2018 10:05:36 +0000

By MUKOSELA KASALWE

GOVERNMENT will not be distracted from rolling out infrastructure development in Zambia, says Housing and Infrastructure Development minister Ronald Chitotela.

Mr Chitotela said it will instead shrug off the ill talk thrown at government by doomsayers.

He said there was a lot of ill talk coming from the opposition political parties regarding infrastructure development but that government would trash such talk and remain focused.

He said this in Lusaka on Monday, after inspecting US$360 million expansion construction works at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA).

Mr Chitotela said that Zambia could only compete favourably with other countries in terms of business and in attracting the hosting of huge events if it had such state-of the-art infrastructure.

“As Government we will not be distracted in carrying out infrastructure development because of ill talk from doomsayers instead like a donkey we will be shrugging off the sand being thrown at us and step on it for us to rise higher and higher,” he said.

Mr Chitotela said the project was being financed by the EXIM Bank of China and contracted to China Jiangxi International whose work would consist of a two-storey terminal building, 22 check-in counters, 12 border channels and six security check counters; a presidential terminal, a new air traffic control building and tower and a new hotel.

And Transport and Communications minister Brian Mushimba said he would ensure that different modes of transport were interlinked.

Mr Mushimba said his ministry would consider putting up more airstrips in strategic provinces following the expansion works at the KKIA.