Kafue Lower power project on course

THE Parliamentary Committee on Parastatal Bodies is satisfied with progress of works on the $2.1 billion 750 megawatts Kafue Gorge Lower hydro-power project.

Committee chairperson Peter Daka, his deputy Patricia Mwashingwele and other members who toured the project yesterday, were happy that works were on schedule.

Mr. Daka said Zambia should not be shy to work with China in such and many other development projects because even big nations like the United Kingdom and the United States were collaborating with China in such works.

The lawmaker, observed that the Chinese were all over the world due to the marvellous projects they were undertaking.

He urged the contractor Sino Hydro of China and ZESCO to ensure the project was within a timeframe for completion by mid-2020.

“As a committee so far we are satisfied with what we have seen. As a country we should not shy away from working with China because even super powers such the UK and the US are working with them on big projects,” he said.

Mr. Daka emphasised the need for the project to benefit local people through corporate social responsibility incentives.

And ZESCO managing director Victor Mundende assured the Committee that the project was on schedule and progressing accordingly.

Mr. Mundende said so far the project has created 3,000 local jobs and that 600 Chinese expatriates were training Zambians in some skills.

He said the project would benefit Zambia as transmission lines would be connected to the national grid.