The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has confirmed that Lusaka, Northwestern, and Northern Provinces will be unable to get the first allocation from the K4 million for the first 7 provinces enlisted for the Chief Dom palace construction.
Ministry of Local Government announced that 81 out of 288 recognized Chiefs will have their palaces constructed at an average cost of about K4 million each (K311 million divided by 81 earmarked palaces) in the next six months of which only seven (7) out of Zambia’s ten (10) provinces will get the first allocation.
According to information made available to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, by the Ministry Public Relations office the seven provinces to be given the first priority for the allocation of the 81 palaces include the Southern provinces with 19 palaces, Eastern province with 16, Luapula province with14, Central Province with 13, and copper belt with three 3 Palaces, Other Provinces include, Muchinga province with 8 palaces, and Western province with 8 palaces.
According to the Ministry, the construction of these palaces is expected to come with a package that comprises a four-bedroom house, two low-cost houses for the chiefs’ retainers, a conference room as well and a water reticulation system.
“The ministry has awarded the Zambia correctional service to construct 81 chiefs’ palaces at a total cost of k311 million. The expected completion period of the construction of each of these palaces is six (6) months. I wish to state that the Zambia correctional service is not the only contractor engaged to construct the palaces as there are other private companies identified to carry out the projects in other parts of the country.’’
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development Permanent Secretary Mambo Hamaundu revealed that the government will this week begin the construction of 110 palaces across the country under phase one of the project.
Asked why the government opted to construct palaces in only 7 provinces out of the total 10 provinces across the country, Hamaundu said the government is using a phased approach to manage available resources.
Asked if the Government has enough resources to finish this project within the announced 6 months, Hamaundu emphasized that the government has enough funds for the construction of the palaces.
“When you sign a contract, it means you have resources. We have contract managers so if there are challenges like the place is impassable, we extend time but money is there.”
