MKUSHI APPEALS FOR INVESTMENT
INVESTORS have been challenged to go to Mkushi which is endowed with natural resources waiting to be exploited.
The council made the appeal during a presentation at a breakfast expo meeting held at Mkushi Country Club in preparation for the October 2018 expo.
In his presentation, Mkushi district council planning officer Bernard Banda said the area had potential for investment because it was endowed with natural resources such as land, water and minerals, among others.
Mr Banda said that Mkushi had a population of 154, 534 which was dependent on agriculture and that the district was typically rural with many rivers, arable irrigated land and cattle ranches.
He said the district was also strategically located with easy access by road, rail and private aircraft.
“Mkushi town itself has about 10,000 hectares of land with a potential for more development such as housing,”
“For instance, there are no medium or large scale housing units in the district, which has grown considerably over the past 10 years.
Several new businesses have moved into the area and the housing market has been unable to meet the demand for good quality housing," Mr Banda said.
He said there was need for large scale housing development which would be profitable for any investor given the current pricing for houses in the area.
He said the district had enough land for investment in agriculture, livestock, timber and tourism.
He said the district was also strategically located for easy tapping of energy from the national power grid which could accelerate massive development.
Mr Banda noted that the district’s population had enough middle to upper class consumers to support a shopping mall.
Mr Banda said currently many Mkushi residents were travelling to Kabwe, Copperbelt or Lusaka for shopping.
He also said there was need for setting up a youth skills training centre to help develop life skills as an alternative source of livelihood for youths.
A public library was also required in the district to promote literacy and readership among the residents.