I won’t be distracted - President Lungu
By ANNIE ZULU
'I WILL not fall prey to baseless allegations of corruption and failure to deliver development,' President Edgar Lungu has said. President Lungu said he would not be discouraged from making hard decisions that would eventually benefit the Zambian people. The President was speaking during the official diversion of Kafue river for the construction of Kafue Gorge lower hydro power plant dam in
Chikankata yesterday. "I will not be distracted by baseless allegations of corruption being thrown here and there by those whose only interest is to paralyse us into fear so that we fail to deliver on our promise and therefore we are kicked out in 2021," President Lungu said.
And the Head of State said the construction of power plants on the Kafue River would maintain generation capacity even in years of low rainfall because the same water would be used at three power stations namely Itezhi tezhi, Kafue Gorge Upper and Kafue Gorge Lower.
President Lungu indicated that the construction of Kafue Gorge Lower project was expected to cost over US$2 billion from China Export and Import Bank (China Exim) and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China funding.
He said the river diversion was a major milestone and achievement in the construction of a hydro power plant and therefore deserved to be celebrated by all.
President Lungu noted that during construction, Zesco through the project company would be implementing corporate social responsibility projects in the chiefdoms where the plant was located.
Speaking earlier, Energy Minister David Mabumba said the Kafue Lower hydro power project was a clear demonstration of the PF's resolve to invest in priority area of the economy.
Mr Mabumba said Zambia was determined to become a power hub in the region by 2025.
The minister said the project at its peak would employ 4,000 people while currently it has 3,000 workers.
And Chinese ambassador to Zambia Yang Youming described the project as "a great project that would contribute to Zambia's development path."