Stalled works worries parliamentary committee

— The Parliamentary Committee on Communication, Works and Supply has expressed concern over the stalled works at Kasaba Bay International Airport in Northern province.

Committee Chairperson Kapembwa Simbao says it is shocking to learn that 1, 800 pockets of cement meant for construction of the Airport has gone to waste after staying for too long without being used.

Mr Simbao who is also Senga Hill Member of Parliament, said there is urgent need for government to do something on the project to avoid wastage of resources.

He observed that huge sums of money were spent on the initial works for Kasaba Bay International Airport and abandoning the project will be a setback to the growth of tourism sector in Northern province.

Mr Simbao however, advised law enforcement agencies to speed up their investigations into irregularities detected to the initial contract relating to the construction of Kasaba Bay International Airport.

Mr Simbao was speaking in Kasama when he and other parliamentary committee members on Communication, Works and Supply paid a courtesy call on Northern province Permanent Secretary Hlobotha Nkunika at his office yesterday.

And Mr Nkunika said government is fully committed to renovating infrastructure at Kasaba Bay in a bid to boost tourist arrivals in the province.

He noted that having modern infrastructure at Kasaba Bay will pave way for growth of the tourism sector in the region.

Mr Nkunika urged the Parliamentary Committee on Communication, Works and Supply to physically visit Kasaba Bay and appreciate the challenges that government is facing in revamping the tourist resort.

The Parliamentary Committee on Communications, Works and Supply is composed of Moomba Member of Parliament Vitalis Mooya, Milanzi’s Whiteson Banda, Kamfisa’s Moses Chishimba, Magoye’s Oliver Mulomba and Lufwanyama MP Annie Chungu.

The Committee is in Northern Province to inspect Kasama and Kasaba Airports respectively.