January 7, Lusaka Times - Chinese construction company China Jiangxi, which is in a joint venture with BICON Zambia Limited, has been awarded a contract to design and construct roads in the Lusaka south multi-facility economic zone (MFEZ) at a cost of K47 billion.

The contract involves construction of the 2.4km Chifwema Road, to connect the MFEZ to the town centre, and a 50km internal road network in the zone.

Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA), through a central tender committee meeting held on December 21 last year, gave China Jiangxi Corporation for International Economic and Technical Cooperation, in association with BICON Zambia Limited, to undertake the project.

Zambia Development Agency public relations and communications manager, Margaret Chimanse said China Jiangxi and BICON Zambia were preparing to start construction work by January 11.

Ms Chimanse, in response to a Press query, said the project was expected to be completed within a year.

Chifwema Road is one of the main access roads that will connect the Lusaka South MFEZ to the Leopards Hill Road.

Other access roads, according to the MFEZ master plan, would connect to Mosi-oa-Tunya and Kafue roads, and the Lusaka National Park.

The Lusaka South MFEZ, a 2,100-hectare area, will house high-tech industries, commercial, residential, research and development facilities, among other infrastructure.

On the Lumwana MFEZ, Ms Chimanse said a statutory instrument was expected to be signed any time soon for work to begin.

The master plan for the Lusaka East MFEZ is also being reviewed and work will start once all logistics are finalised, she said.