By KENNEDY MUPESENI –
THE Kitwe City Council has resolved to lease out Buchi Hotel to a private developer to turn it into a modern facility.
Kitwe Mayor Christopher Kang’ombe said a resolution has been passed to look for a developer for Buchi Hotel which has been in a dilapidated state for a long time.
“A council resolution to look for a developer to turn Buchi Hotel into a modern facility has been passed, very soon we should be able to invite developers,” Mr Kang’ombe said.
He said a number of businesses have already written to the council to express their willingness to partner with the council.
“We are waiting to get guidelines from the Public Private Partnership (PPP) unit and look at the proposals that are already active,” Mr Kang’ombe said.
He said the PPP unit would advise if it will require bringing more developers with other ideas.
Mr Kang’ombe said the council reached at the resolution because it had limited capacity to the facility, hence the decision to bring a private partner on board.
He said the council was interested in more productive engagements with the private sector to revamp and re-energise the economic fortunes of the city.
Mr Kang’ombe said more home grown ideas were needed to turnaround the city’s economy and reduce the high dependence on Copper.
