Zambia: The government of Nsama District has announced that Nsumbu Mini Hospital is expected to be completed by March 2024. The project was recently handed over to a new contractor, who has sped up the progress of the mini hospital.
Northern Province Permanent Secretary Bernard Mpundu expressed delight on behalf of the government. He credited the new contractor for the increased speed of the progress.
Permanent Secretary Mpundu made these remarks during a spot check of Lake Tanganyika Development Projects in Nsumbu District on Tuesday. The Ministry of Green Economy and Environment Permanent Secretary Doughty Chibamba conducted the exercise.
Construction of the mini-hospital began in 2016 at a contract price of K16 million. However, the work could not be completed after the previous contractor abandoned the work. The people of the district are also celebrating the progress in the construction of the facility.
Mpundu said he was happy with the new contractor, Shachitari Construction Limited. He claimed that the new has promised to hand over the infrastructure by March this year.
Meanwhile, Dr Chibamba said his Ministry would continue to supplement other ministries through such projects. The Lake Tanganyika project encompasses the construction of a health facility, secondary school, skills centre, water reticulation among other social amenities.
He explained that the project looks at the biodiversity and the natural resources around the lake basin.
Dr Chibamba said the component of infrastructure development will help provide deliverables for the people in various parts of the country.
Meanwhile, Lupili A Village Headman Albert Songwe said he was grateful for the project, which has given a face-lift to the Nsumbu Sub-District.
Songwe stated that the area being at the shore of Lake Tanganyika, through the project has been accorded the necessary development that will improve livelihoods.
Meanwhile, Shachitari Construction Limited Project Quantity Surveyor Nicholas Zulu hailed the ministry for prioritising local contractors by awarding them with such an opportunity.
Zulu said it gives confidence to local contractors to work even harder.
The health facility will house a bed space capacity of 300. The mini hospital will accommodate people from Mpulungu, Kaputa and Nsama Districts.
The entourage also inspected constructions at the Nsumbu fish market, Tanganyika community radio station, Kasaba Bay Boarding School and Nsumbu Training Institute.