Ndola Mayor Amon Chisenga says the establishment of the modern Ndola International Airport will boost the city’s economic flow and also boost the tourism.
And Mr. Chisenga states that it was not only humbling to have the head of state visit two key socio-economic developmental projects over the weekend in the city but gratifying to have the head of state reinforce the need for Zambia to not only decentralize by book but devolve funds slowly and surely.
Mr. Chisenga said the toll plaza named after the 5th President and founding father of the Patriotic Front His Excellency President Michael Sata is one that will yield positive results to the city of Ndola who are already benefiting from road tolling after NRFA released K200, 000 to Ndola City Council to help with road marking and maintenance.
“The Local Authority recognises that the Road tolling system is a sustainable means to mobilise domestic revenue for the maintenance of road infrastructure and it is to this effect that it will engage the National Road Fund Agency to partner with Ndola City Council to demystify the wrong perception of toll plazas and sensitise road users on the advantage of these toll gates,” he said.
He says he was also elated to see President Lungu take a leading role to help the city to see to the completion of the Copperbelt International Airport by 2020.
He notes that the establishment of the modern international airport in Ndola will boost the city’s economic flow and also boost the tourism in Ndola and Zambia as a whole.
Mr. Chisenga has observed that the 397 million dollar project which is planned to be able to land international flights with aircrafts as large as the Boeing 747 will also create the much needed employment to many youths directly and indirectly as is already observed by the 800 locals employed by AVIC International during its construction stage.
“The advantages are that it will supply a number of jobs for the local community. This will be because builders, plumbers, electricians etc will be needed for the building of the airport, and then staff will be needed for the different shops/cafes/services once completed,” he said.
The Ndola Mayor says this will cause an increase in employment of the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors, an increase in the local economy and a positive multiplier effect.