Construction of K200, 000 Isoka livestock centre delays
Written by Millennium on July 30, 2019
PETER SICHALI writes
@SunZambian
CONSTRUCTION of a K200, 000 livestock centre in Sansamwenje area of Isoka District has stalled and the development has worried area senior headman Bright Siame.
Mr Siame said the contractor VG Lucks Investments Limited has since abandoned the site.
He told the Sun in an interview that there was need for the centre to be completed quickly so that livestock farmers in the area could start accessing its services to improve production and quality of their animals.
“In March 2017 government with support from the African Development Bank(AfDB) through Livestock infrastructure support programme had embarked on the centre in Sansamwenje area and we were told that the project will be completed in eight months but the project has stalled at roof level and the contractor has since abandoned the site,’’ Mr Siame said.
Mr Siame said the contractor left after he failed to engage local people as bricklayers and casual workers.
He has since called on government to terminate the contract so that the project could be given to a serious builder.
Mr Siame said the facility would help reduce animal mortality and increase population as diseases would be detected early and treated promptly.
He said the planned livestock centre was an important facility that would boost livestock farming in the area hence the need to have it completed.
“Livestock plays very important economic, social and cultural development for rural communities. It also contributes to improve income and wellbeing of many families,” he said.
Mr Siame said once completed the facility would have a deep tank, treatment section and training centre for livestock farmers to help improve food supply, nutrition, income, asset savings, soil productivity, livelihoods, agricultural diversification and sustainable agricultural production.
He urged government to quickly intervene and ensure that the project was completed.
