By MAYA NTANDA –

GOVERNMENT has handed over the K17 million Mufuchani housing unit project to the beneficiaries.

The project is aimed at enhancing the social -economic status of Kitwe.

The houses and two churches constructed under the Mufuchani Resettlement Action Programme was part of the Mufuchani bridge project
under the Road Development Agency (RDA) with funding from the World Bank.

Transport, Works, Supply and Communication Minister Yamfwa Mukanga said during the handover ceremony in Kitwe yesterday that President
Michael Sata attaches great importance to infrastructure development and wanted to see Zambia changed for the better.

Mr Mukanga said a total of 57 houses in Kawama and Ipusukilo townships and two churches were constructed at the cost of K17million in line
with Government’s policy to accelerate national development through construction of critical infrastructure such as roads.

“I am happy that Government, with the help of the World Bank have been able to provide decent housing for our affected families. Government desires that our lives change for the better and here lives will change,” he said.

Mr Mukanga said to facilitate the Mufuchani bridge project, it was necessary to relocate households that were settled in the
alignment of the bridge and roads.

“The construction of Mufuchani bridge has immense benefits to the people of Mufuchani and the country in general, the construction of
the bridge will also alleviate the suffering of the residents of Mufuchani and Ipusukilo townships who cross the Kafue river every day,” he said.

The Minister said apart from constructing roads, Government also had the responsibility to provide necessary crossing in form of bridges
and other drainage structures such as culverts and drifts.

Mr Mukanga further urged the Kitwe City Council to ensure that they provide proper planning for the new city and avoid allocating a church
plot next to a drinking place.

Kwacha Member of Parliament (MP) Bonny Mutale said the construction of the bridge across the Kafue River was becoming a reality under the
Patriotic Front (PF) Government when previous Governments failed to do so.

He appealed to the beneficiaries not to sell the houses. Kitwe mayor Chileshe Bweupe said the construction the housing unit was
a milestone and a conduit of economic and social development.

Mr Bweupe said the construction of the bridge was an opportunity to open up the city on the other side as well as to decongest the central
business district.

Copperbelt provincial minister Mwenya Musenge, Kitwe District commissioner Elias Kamanga and RDA Chief Executive officer Charles
Mushota also attended the handover ceremony.