The Zambia Airports Corporation limited – ZACL has disclosed that the on-going works at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport – KKIA are currently running at 87% towards completion and the works have so far progressed to an advanced stage.
Speaking to the media in Lusaka who toured the construction site on February 11, 2020, ZACL Communications and Branding Manager Mweembe Sikaulu said the design and construction of the airport infrastructure at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport – KKIA was awarded to China Jiangxi Corporation for international economic and technical cooperation.
And when asked how much has so far been utilized from the US$360 million, Mweembe could not immediately disclose the specific amount but confirmed that the project is expected to be completed in good time, and emphasized on its positive progress.
She said the infrastructure development projects that the corporation has embarked on are to accommodate the anticipated increase in traffic, cargo volumes and passenger numbers. The current construction progress at KKIA for the new passenger terminal is at 96%, the Hotel at 94%, the Rescue and Fire Services Station at 98%, Air traffic control tower at 97%, Presidential Pavilion at 88.5%, Cargo Terminal at 98%, Airport Shopping Mall at 98% and the Airport Office Complex at 98%.
Mweembe added that among the 8 buildings being constructed include the refurbishing of the current airport as a way of developing the airport into a Regional hub. “It is part of our strategic plan that in the next few years Zambia will also become a regional hub just like some other countries and this can only be done by these developments so we can raise our standards,” She said.
She further revealed that the hotel has a 70 room capacity and that the corporation is still in the process of finding who will run the hotel or the brand it will be associated with. The projects embarked by ZACL in the past few years include the upgrading of four international airports namely Lusaka’s Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, the Copperbelt’s Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport, and the tourism capital of Livingston’s Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport and Mfuwe international airport which is a gateway to the safari tourism hotspot of the Luangwa National Park.
