PS clarifies delays in Bangweulu landing bays work

THE government has made available K3 million towards the construction of landing bays for boats at Samfya and Chilubi, Ministry of Transport and Communication Permanent Secretary Misheck Lungu, has said.

Mr Lungu said that K2m of the amount had been used to construct the landing bay in Samfya. Mr Lungu said the Ministry of Finance was also in the process of disbursing the debt still owed to the contractor so that he could finalise the works.

He told the Daily Nation that delay in operationalising the water transport vessel at Lake Bangweulu was due to the unavailability of landing bays, capable of docking big boats at Samfya and Chilubi Islands.

He was dispelling the social media rumours that the government had fully paid the contractor for the landing bay works.

Mr Lungu called on the public to desist from peddling lies in the media because it could easily cause confusion and derail development.

He said that government was still in the process of sourcing the remaining funds to ensure that the contractor could complete the work.

Mr Lungu said that, as of today, two landing bays had been constructed at Kilwa Island and the vessel was ready to move from Kashikishi to the Island.

“So far, two landing jetties have been contracted at Kilwa Island and the other two were been constructed at Chiselwa Island on Lake Mweru in Nchelenge,” he said.

Mr Lungu explained that the low water levels on the two Luapula Province water bodies had also contributed to the delays in completing the project.