Thu, 10 Aug 2017 12:55:26 +0000
By Bennie Mundando
I AM impressed with the pace at which the construction of the Copperbelt International Airport is progressing but please, give employment and more sub-contracts to Zambians, Copperbelt Province Minister Bowman Lusambo has pleaded with AVIC.
And AVIC International senior consultant Lei Yingqi appealed to Government to quickly move the remaining 46 settlers who are occupying the land where the runway would pass, saying delays in removing them might stall the works.
Mr Lusambo, who toured the construction site in Ndola in the company of officials from Zambia Airports Corporation Limited, said the progress recorded so far was impressive and that at the rate the contractor was working, Government was assured that the project would be concluded on schedule.
“Government intends to give a good service to the people of Zambia in general and the Copperbelt in particular. The President launched this project two months ago and so far, I am happy with what I have seen.
“The works are going on well and I am confident that we will finish the project within the targeted period. President Lungu wants to leave a legacy to Zambians politically, economically, and socially and this is what we also want to see as his soldiers who are carrying his vision,” Mr. Lusambo said.
He said the project would not only add value to the economic hub of the province but would also add to infrastructure development in the area and implored the company to employ more Zambians and consider the locals as priority in awarding sub-contracts.
He emphasised that qualified Zambians should be hired to work on the project and that more local firms should be sub-contracted as a way of increasing local benefits.
And Mr. Yingqi appealed to Government to quickly move the remaining 46 settlers who are occupying the land where the runway would pass, saying delays in removing them might impact other works.
He also said engagement of the local people to work on the project would be gradual and called for patience from prospective employees as not all of them would be employed at the same time.
“This is a very modern airport which will have an overflight bridge with the airport décor. In total, we have six branches. Please let the people understand that even as we promise to hire them, the process will be gradual not immediately.
Let’s not have the people come here and throw stones and cause violence. We need your protection,” Mr Yingqi pleaded with Mr. Lusambo.
In June 2017, President Edgar Lungu launched the construction of the US$397 million airport in Ndola whose construction is expected to take three years.
