Construction of the K46 billion Kasaba Bay International Airport in Northern Province is expected to be completed in 2014.
Deputy Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications, Panji Kaunda, today told Parliament that government has allocated K46 billion towards the airport project which is expected to be completed next year.
ColKaunda said most of the works have been done except for the run way which he said has been delayed by the Rural Roads Unit which withdrew its equipment so that it could be used elsewhere.
The Deputy Minister assured that House that the project would be completed once the Rural Roads Unit brings back the equipment to wind up the remaining works.
Col Kaunda was responding to Chimbamilonga Member of Parliament, Hastings Chansa, who wanted to know when the construction of the Kasaba Bay Airport will be completed and the parts of the project which is remaining.
Mr Chansa also wanted to know what has caused the delay in the completion of the project and how much money is required to complete the works.
And Government has assured Zambians that the country will successfully migrate from analogue broadcasting to digital broadcasting by 2014 and areas that are experiencing poor ZNBC signals will finally be enjoy quality broadcast services.
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Kennedy Sakeni, told parliament that government is aware that some parts of the country are experiencing poor television signals which he said will only be addressed when the country switches over to digital broadcasting.
Mr Sakeni said government cannot afford to buy new transmitters for few areas that are experiencing poor signals but will only manage to migrate to digital so that all districts countrywide experience quality services.
He said it would be costly to purchase transmitters which he said would cost government not less than K4m rebased for a single transmitter.
He said the country was supposed to migrate this year as per SADC countries’ agreement but could not do so due to some challenges.
The Minister was responding to a question raised by Nchelenge MP, Raymond Mpundu, who wanted to know when ZNBC television signals would be improved in Kawambwa, Nchelenge and Chiengi districts.
The debate on ZNBC poor signals in rural areas was echoed by both Sinda MP, Levy Ngoma, and Vubwi MP Eustarckio Kazonga, who wanted the Minister to categorically confirm if people in the rural areas will continue experiencing poor signal.
ZANIS
This is an MMD baby concieved when RB was steering the country to record gains but now the visionless/clueless PF vultures will claim this baby as their own.How sad.
Its country project not your mmd no !!!!!!even pf will leave so projects they have started dont look at the party but look at development of our country.so boy go to hell with your mmd & R. Banda peto!!!!!!!
@Enka Rasha
…so tell me something, PF must drop all MMD projects and start there own new projects??
It was not conceived during President Banda’s time. It was conceived during President Mwanawasa’s admnistration. I was in charge of the steering committee which developed the project. The project was intended to turn Kasaba Bay into a tourist resort of international standard like Sun City in South Africa and Sharma-eil Sheik in Egypt. It was going to create thousands of value jobs, a lot of business opportunities for Zambians and generate millions of dollars in revenue for Zambia. In addition to Kasaba Bay we had similar programme for Livingstone. The two were going to be developed at the same time.
The Kasaba Bay and Livingstone projects were among the many projects that president Mwanawasa had planned to leave as his legacy. But today some people want to get credit for them.
So what. There is no separate country for PF or MMD and other parties but one Zambia for all.
You are a very negative primitive person!This is national project not RB or PFs.You sound like an empty drum man,think before you yap or shut yo trap!
When will the Rural Roads Unit bring back the equipment?
One Love kwasila you are spot on.
Bravo Panji! Keep it up!
why develop a big international airport in a place that does not have many Zedian living there. I see no economic benefit other than a few individuals with money and pleasure. To date we do not have an international airport in Chipata, Northwestern. Even just to improve Ndola airport or Lusaka Airport at the least. All lack of direction. Lack of vision is pandemic in Zed, at first sight I am thinking maybe this is a good investment for myself to secure a piece of land there but wait a minute ,, what about all the other key economic areas of our poor country that desperately require upgrade or new infrastructure. An airport in Kasaba bay sucks, a waste of hard earned money for the Zedian people. I promise you none of you chaps here will have the will and means to enjoy this waste.I re
You chaps, this no time to be talking Sun City, and resort issues when we need to be serious with things that really matter. Development for all.
Dr. Makasa Kasonde? …. what a disappointment, which university, Matero or Mandevu? please Kasonde go to a proper university and drink water to flush your brians.
Kr4m is expensive iwe chi Sakeni? You the i.d.i.o.t.s that are causing unnecessary bye elections which cost not less than Kr10m each which could be channeled to more useful projects like the one you are talking about. This is indeed kolwestan thinking of the worst kind!
Why improve TV signals in rural areas when people cannot afford to buy a TV set? Better improve radio signals because in many rural areas pipo have radios.
The current govt will start projects of their own.mmd projects were meant to develop zambia so is link zambia road project.
RB was known for stealing and selling companies
I dont thing this picture is taken in KASABA BAY? Also panji did not answer the question in full, anyway UNIP manners, we hope to get more infor. in the next publication
Good move ba PF! Please the rural development shani shani uko should bring the equipment back ASAP!! the project needs to be completed kwamana!
u can tell satas pfools agents here