By BRIAN HATYOKA –

GOVERNMENT has started the construction of 4,000 housing units in Kazungula District in Southern Province, District Commissioner Pascalina Musokotwane has said.
The ground breaking ceremony for the houses is expected to take place next month.
Leedsfit Holdings Zambia Limited has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Zambian Government to construct the 4,000 housing units.
According to the MoU, about 3,000 housing units would go to the Government while 1,000 units would be for the public.
Ms Musokotwane, who declined to state the total amount to be spent on the housing units, said the ground breaking ceremony for the project would take place next month after which construction works would start.
She was speaking in an interview in Kazungula on Tuesday after officials from Leedsfit Holdings Zambia Limited inspected the proposed land for the project.
Ms Musokotwane said President Edgar Lungu was expected to officiate at the ground breaking ceremony.
“As you can see, we have kick-started the project and I can boast that this has been done within the few days of the new President in office which signifies continuity of what late President Michael Sata left.
“The project has already been awarded to Leedsfit Holdings Zambia Limited and now we are waiting for President Lungu to settle down and come here for the ground breaking ceremony next month,” Ms Musokotwane said.
The project had been dragging for the last seven year and it only made sense when the Patriotic Front (PF) Government came into power in 2011.
“This project will take four years to complete and it will have a lot of other amenities besides houses such as the municipal council, schools, hospital and a police station.
“Close to 1,000 jobs will be created under this project which will be a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement,” Ms Musokotwane said.
The project would also have its own new water reticulation system away from the one provided by Southern Water and Sewerage Company (SWSC).
She also said the actual construction of Kazungula Bridge project was expected to commence next month.
“The contractors are currently mobilising resources and construction is expected to start next month following the ground breaking ceremony held last year.
“On other developmental projects in the district, the construction of the K11 million District Hospital has now reached roof level,” Ms Musokotwane said.