President Hakainde Hichilema has implored contractors engaged on government projects to double their efforts and complete structures even before the completion timeframe.
President Hichilema says contractors must work to beat the completion schedule.
He disclosed that government is in a hurry to foster and improve accommodation challenges in the education sector through massive construction of infrastructures.
ZANIS reports that the Head of State said this in Lusaka when he toured and inspected the K163 million hostels under construction at University of Zambia (UNZA), Ridgeway Campus.
The President bemoaned stalled construction of hostels at the Campus that have been delayed for over a decade.
He further reiterated government’s desire to complete the stalled unfinished infrastructures in all key sectors of the economy across the country.
The President has since tasked Wah Kong Enterprise Limited, a Chinese firm contracted to construct four hostels at the Ridgeway Campus to complete the structures before schedule.
He emphasizes that accommodation is critical to enhancing the performance of students at learning institutions.
“You contractors; work like ants. Finish constructing these hostels even before schedule completion timeframe, December. Work 24 hours,” he said.
And President Hichilema says his administration will invest heavily in the education sector as it is the cornerstone for accelerating development in the country
“Government will ensure that we invest heavily in the education sector to steer national development through the gained skills that are put in the economy,” he said.
And Wah Kong Enterprise Limited Deputy Managing Director Jeremy Yu pledged to execute the project within 14-months.
Earlier, UNZA Vice Chancellor Mundia Muya disclosed that the hostels will have a capacity of 15,272 bed spaces once completed.
Professor Muya further disclosed that a modern lecture theatre under construction with support from the African Development Bank will soon be commissioned before the end of this year.
Meanwhile, UNZA Student Union president Prestone Mulala thanked the government for re-introducing meal allowance and increasing it to K5,000 from K1,200.
Credit
ZANIS