Govt, ZMart Ink US$110m Kasumbalesa Development Agreement
By Paul Shalala
Government has signed a 110-million-United-States-dollar Concession Agreement with the Ndola-based ZMart Group of Companies for the construction of a One-Stop Border Post at Kasumbalesa and 20 kilometers of township roads in Chililabombwe and Chingola on the Copperbelt.
Attorney General MULILO KABESHA witnessed the signing of the concession agreement which includes the construction of a 2,000 capacity truck park, a multi facility economic zone, a fire station, 300 shops, a hotel and a shopping mall.
Finance and National Planning Minister SITUMBEKO MUSOKOTWANE, Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister CHIPOKA MULENGA and ZMart Chief Executive Officer JIGNESH SONI signed the concession agreement in Ndola today.
And Dr. MUSOKOTWANE said Zambia is expected to witness a boom in the economy from next year due to the revival of the mining sector and good investment climate provided by government.
THIS WAS THE EARLIER REPORT
Zambia Imports Consortium proposal
Chirundu Border
Chirundu border has, without public tender, been awarded to a newly created entity called; Chirundu Border Concession and Kasumbalesa border is earmarked, without competitive bid, to be awarded to a newly created consortium called; Zambia Imports Consortium.
This follows an application by the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, as a procurement entity, who brought the unsolicited and uncompetitive bids through a restricted tender process.
KASUMBALESA BORDER
The Government and ZIPBCC signed a Concession Agreement for Kasumbalesa Border Post on 1st July, 2009, to Design, Build, Operate and Transfer. The operations of the border facility by ZIPBCC commenced in March, 2011.
After the expiry of the Concession, Transfer of the Kasumbalesa Border Post by the Zambia (1. P.) Border Crossing Company (ZIPBCC) to the Government of the Republic of Zambia began.
Cabinet approved that the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) should, from Friday, 3rd March, 2023, start managing the Vehicle Traffic Management System at Kasumbalesa Border Facility, including other supporting infrastructure.
The decision by Cabinet followed the expiry of the Concession Agreement between the Government and the Zambia (|. P.) Border Crossing Company ZIPBCC on Friday 3rd March, 2023.
ANOTHER EXPENSIVE CONSENT JUDGEMENT
In March 2023, Government entered into an agreement to settle a dispute eegarding a period when President Michael Sata cancelked concessions for Zambia Railways, Kasumbalesa and Nakonde borders and the sale of Zamtel.
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE OUTSTANDING DEBT OF US$43,084,540.50
18 August 2023
BETWEEN
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA
ACTING THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND NATIONAL PLANNING
AND
ZAMBIA INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY BORDER CROSSING COMPANY
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT RELATING TO THE CONCESSION AGREEMENT FOR DESIGN, BUILD, OPERATE AND TRANSFER OF THE KASUMBALESA BORDER POST TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND OTHER SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE