AfDB to roll out mega projects in Zambia

THE African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced its intention to roll out mega projects in four key areas of Zambia this year.

These areas include the expansion of the Mpulungu Harbour, development of the Lusuwishi Farming Block, stimulation and scale up of Water Resources Management Projects and institutional support towards fiscal consolidation.

AfDB country manager, Mary Manneko Monyau, said feasibility studies were already on course for these sectors and once concluded, appropriate implementation activities would be funded in accordance with the findings.

“Zambia is a very important partner as it is the largest investment portfolio for the bank in Southern Africa,” Ms. Monyau said.

Ms. Monyau was speaking in Lusaka yesterday when she paid a courtesy call on the Minister of National Development Planning, Alexander Chiteme.

This is according to a statement made available by the Ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Sikabele Chikuba.

Meanwhile, Mr. Chiteme welcomed the proposed projects adding that the Mpulungu Harbour and institutional support were crucial towards economic stabilisation programme that had already started yielding positive results.

“My Ministry being among the first to be visited by the country manager after she submitted her credentials shows how much the bank values the close collaboration with the ministry,” Mr. Chiteme said.

Mr. Chiteme recognised that “ADB efforts currently stand at US$21 billion covering 26 operations in different sectors of the country.”

Ms Monyau and Mr. Chiteme had since agreed to a stronger open policy partnership that would help Zambia increase its project implementation and financial absorption capacity.