Defence Minister Edgar Lungu
By NAKUBIANA SHABONGO –
GOVERNMENT has urged the Zambia Army to engage in infrastructure development apart from the usual military duties and operations.
Defence Minister Edgar Lungu assured that Government would involve the military cantonments in the massive infrastructure development taking place in the country.
Mr Lungu hailed the Zambia Army engineers and the Buildings Department at the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications for constructing the state-of-the-art Army Headquarters Banquet Hall.
“I am aware that most of your roads and buildings in the military cantonments are in a deplorable state, but I want to assure you that some of the challenges you are experiencing will be attended to, just as the other buildings and roads in the country are receiving attention,” he said.
The minister was speaking when he officially opened the Army Headquarters Banquet Hall at Arakan Barracks in Lusaka yesterday.
He said despite facing financial challenges, the Army had managed to put available resources to good use and built the structure within a short time. ”I am aware that for a long time officers have been using makeshift structures for functions such as annual balls, but with the construction of this banquet hall that will be a thing of the past.
“I appeal to all of you and others to guard this building jealously against vandalism and depreciation. In this regard, I urge the Commander to put up measures that will assist to maintain this building for many years to come,” Mr Lungu said.
Zambia Army Commander, Lieutenant-General Paul Mihova congratulated Mr Lungu on his appointment as Defence Minister, and pledged to support him in his execution of duties.
General Mihova said the hall would help the security wing generate revenue that would be used to maintain some dilapidated infrastructure in the headquarters.
He thanked the Government for rendering support to the Zambia Army to complete the hall and commended his junior officers for constructing the structure.
