The Ndola City Council (NCC) and Henan Guoji Industry Group Company Limited have revamped the joint venture agreement between NCC-China Henan Guoji Group for the purpose of building housing units to be sold to public workers and the general public.
The venture which had hit some stumbling blocks due to delayed funding and later encroachment of land that had been made available by Ndola City Council led to various court cases.
NCC Public Relations Manager Tilyenji Mwanza however says an understanding has been drawn between the two parties where Ndola City Council have first made available 60 hectares of land for China Henan Guoji to begin construction of houses in August, 2019.
Ms Mwanza says the project which will be guided by an activity calendar to commence in August, 2019 is expected to change the face of Ndola as the established Urban Compound will also come with it schools, shopping malls and hospitals meant to cater for the population in the housing development.
She says shaking hands on the development Henan Guoji Chairperson Mr. Tong Sheng who led a delegation from China to Ndola City Council assured that the company is taking the project very seriously and with the utmost focus from their part.
And Ndola Mayor Mr. Amon Chisenga said government appreciates the relationship between Zambia and China noting that the negative falsehoods will not deter the government from building positive relationships with China as they have clearly shone a positive development light.
He called on Henan Guoji to stick to the activity calendar and commence constructions in August observing that delays as observed in the past birthed problems.
And Ndola City Council Acting Town Clerk Wisdom Bwalya urged the Chinese company to adhere to Zambian labor laws as they commence construction of the project.
Mr. Bwalya further tasked the Henan Guoji with the responsibility of using local staff as opposed to Chinese.
He said Council will keep an eye on behalf of government that Henan Guoji use localized labor.
The joint venture agreement for the purposes of building housing units has seen Ndola City Council contributing land while Henan Guoji will provide the funding required to implement the project to build the housing units.