President Edgar Lungu has declared Kalumbila and Mushindano areas in North Western province as districts.
Kalumbila and Mushindano were part of Solwezi district
situated in Solwezi West and East respectively in North
Western Province.
President Lungu was prompted to declare the two areas as
districts following the impressive construction of Kalumbila
town developed by First Quantum Minerals (FQM) owners of
Kulumbia mines.
Mr Lungu declared Mushindano as a district with a call that
it should emulate the modern developed Kalumbila town by
FQM.
He said this yesterday when he unveiled the foundation
stone for Kalumbila town in Solwezi district, North Western
province.
“As it is, I have made a decision that Solwezi West will
become a district and should be a model town, for new
towns to be developed in the country in the near future.
“In the same vain I would like to declare Mushindano town
in Solwezi East as a district. I want it to emulate the
development here in Kalumbila,” Mr Lungu said.
FQM has developed a modern town in Kalumbila with all the
necessary social facilities, with high and low cost houses to
offer accommodation for more than 15,000 people by the
year 2020.
The town currently has over 5,000 people since it was
developed 18 months ago.
Earlier President Lungu commissioned the US$ 2.1 billion
Sential Copper Mine at Kalumbila Minerals owned by FQM.
Sential Copper Mine is the biggest copper mine in Zambia
and once fully operation would employ 3,064 people.
Development of the mine started three years ago and the
processing of copper ore started six months ago.
Assistant general manager of Kansanshi minerals Tristan
Pascall described the project as a success.
Mr Pascall said the company was doing everything possible
to train local people to take over the management and
operation of the mine and other investments.
He said low power supply to the mine was one of the major
challenges to its operation as it was currently receiving only
45 mega watts (MW) of electricity instead of 160 MW.
However, the mine is expected to be supplied with 160MW
once ZESCO commissions the new power line under
construction to supply sufficient power for its operation.
“We have entered into partnership with ZESCO to construct a
new power line to feed the mine all the way from Lusaka
West. It has five substations up to this place which have
been completed and we will commission on September 18,”
Mr Pascall said.
President Lungu is in the province for a two days official
visit.
The Presidents would also attend the Likumbi Liamize today.
He is accompanied by Justice minister Ngosa Simbyakula,
Chiefs and Traditional affairs minister Joseph Katema,
Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister Christopher
Yaluma, Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early
Education minister Michael Kaingu.
Others are special assistant to the President for Economic
affairs Hibeene Mwiinga, special assistant to the President
for political affairs Kaizer Zulu, Patriotic Front (PF) deputy secretary general Mumbi Phiri and other government officials.LT
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