The government has dismantled part of the K1,550, 850 debt owed to the Zambia Forest and Forestry Industries Corporation (ZAFFICO).
The payment is compensation for the trees logged during the clearing of the land to pave way for the construction of the Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola, Copperbelt Province.
ZAFFICO surrendered 2,000 hectares of its plantation to the government in 2017 for the construction of a US$397 million international airport.
ZAFFICO Public Relations Manager, Ireen Chipili, who did not disclose the amount which has been paid to dismantle the debt for the timber logged during the clearing of the site, said the company has received money from government as compensation.
She explained that the government has committed to settling the debt in total adding that there are processes happening in the background.
“I can confirm that government has started unbundling the debt to compensate the corporation for the trees logged during the clearing of the forest land for construction of the new airport and an area where over 400 people were displaced besides the clearing of the Misaka Reserve Forest,” Ms. Chipili said.
ZANIS reports that the Ministry of Agriculture was charged with the responsibility of assessing the value of the timber logs after undertaking the actual inventory on the size and volume of trees.
Ms. Chipili said the corporation is happy with the commitment shown by government.
The Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport was commissioned last year and is expected to record a million passengers per year.
Pictures? Of the airport the plantation etc?
Good development. Domestic debt is also being serviced bit by bit. It’s just what HH promised.
Forward nafuti nafuti.
That is not an excuse for ZAFICO to fail to supply ZESCO with poles……….
ZAFICO mangment are now trying to find excuses………..
Well ZESCO for exposing this massive black hole that is ZAFICO………..
Were trees destroyed or sold? Payment should be for the land not for trees.
How do you post an article about debt when the exact exact amount which has been paid to dismantle the debt is not being disclosed by the PR Manager…we were promised transparency and accountability but we are still being drip feed with information.