International conference centre construction set

MINISTER of Housing and Infrastructure Development, Ronald Chitotela says his ministry is focused on ensuring that construction of the International Conference Centre starts as soon as possible in Lusaka. The International Conference Centre will be the venue for the 2022 African Union Heads of State and Government summit which Zambia will host.Mr. Chitotela said he was happy that discussions with the Chinese government, who have agreed to help Zambia construct the ultramodern state of the art facility, have reached an advanced stage. The Minister said government has also identified land where to build 5-star hotels ahead of the continental conference in 2022. fiWe are engaging the private sector to help build 5-star hotels under the Public Private Partnership arrangement. As Government, we have already identified land where these hotels are going to be constructed,fl Mr. Chitotela said. The Minister was speaking at his office yesterday when Chinese ambassador to Zambia LI JIE paid a courtesy call on him. And Mr. LI said China was committed to ensure that the facility is constructed. He said China wanted to showcase its expertise to the rest of Africa through the conference centre it will build in Lusaka. Mr. LI assured the Minister that the ultra-modern state of the art conference facility that will have a capacity of about 2,500 people will be ready by 2020 in readiness for the summit. Zambia will in 2022 host the AU Heads of State and Government summit in Lusaka. Ahead of that, government has decided to put in place a state of the art conference facility with the help of the Chinese government.