Chinese firm puts up bus shelters
NATION REPORTER A Kitwe-based Chinese company specialized in construction works has said it will always work closely with leaders at grass root level to put up necessary infrastructure that would benefit the people.
Astor Investments Limited Managing Director Wang Xin said his company which was based in Garneton Township has a good relationship with area Councilor Mpasa Mwaya popularly known as ‘Itimpi One’
Mr Xin said in an interview in Kitwe yesterday that his company had so far spent more than K120,000 on putting up three Bus Shelters on the Kitwe-Chingola Road side, at the Garneton Local Court and at the Garnetone Round about. He said the Bus Shelters were put up at the request of the ward Councilor who has continued to demonstrate her desire to bring development in the area.
“If you have a councilor like Mpasa Mwaya who is determined to develop the area, you should also support her in a small way. So even my company decided to put up three Bus shelters in the area as a way of contributing to the development in the area.
“This is not the first and last, but it is the beginning of more things that may come to the area. You know what? You start small, small and get bigger. If resources are coming, we will continue supporting our councilor,” Mr Xin said.
Mr Xin said his company, which is based in Garneton Township would also find a way of supplementing government efforts by contributing to the upgrading of Garneton primary school.
He was responding to Itimpi ward Councilor Mpasa Mwaya’s statement that Garneton Primary School would this year be upgraded into a secondary school to cater for the increasing demands of secondary school places.
The Astor Investments Limited Chief said he would talk to the Ward Councilor to find out where he could contribute to the upgrading of the school to meet secondary school standards.
“We cannot do the whole upgrading of the school on our own, but we will supplement government’s efforts in one way, especially that we are a construction company. I will talk to the area councilor so that we can see where we can contribute towards this process of upgrading Garneton Primary School to Secondary School.
“You know , education is very important and this is why, if it is possible, we try to support Zambian youths to study here in Zambia or China by means of helping them pay the required fees,” He said
And in response, Itimpi ward Councilor Mpasa Mwaya said she had no doubt that Mr Xin would make a significant contribution to the upgrading of the primary school into a Secondary School because he has always been a committed and responsible resident of Itimpi ward.
Ms Mwaya said companies, businessmen and the general residents of Itimpi ward should join efforts in developing the ward because the benefits of development would be for all the residents of the ward. “We have issues of roads, security, education and health which the government has promised to work on. So if there are ways in which we can supplement government’s efforts, let us share ideas on how best we can do that.
“Let us not waste time on politicking, but spend time on finding solutions to the challenges facing our area so that Itimpi can be a better place to live in. Am grateful that Mr Xin has promised to support the upgrading of the school. We will discuss with him so that we can see how best we can proceed,” Ms Mwaya said.