MCA pays off sewer vegetable growers

By LINDA SOKO TEMBO

ABOUT 12 people who were gardening within the corridors of the sewer ponds in Kaunda Square have been compensated by Millennium Challenge Account (MCA).

MCA communication and outreach director John Kunda said the 12 had been transitioned into livelihood restoration, which meant they were losing a livelihood but at the same time being given another opportunity.

Dr Kunda explained that the selected 12 were the most affected during the construction works of the ponds.

“We picked 12 because those were the ones within the corridors where we were doing the construction works they were impacted, anyone outside the corridors we don’ deal with them,” he said.

In an interview with the Daily nation, Dr. Kunda said the 12 people were given over K14,000 as startup capital for their businesses.

He said that the business people were also given mentors to help and monitor their businesses for the next one year in financial management.

Dr. Kunda also disclosed that the $10 million Kaunda square sewer ponds project had been completed and Mota Engil the construction company would hand over the project to MCA.

“Friday this week there will be the official technical handover of the Kaunda square ponds by the contractor to MCA and next month we will hand over the project to Lusaka Water Sewerage Company LWSC,” he said.