By JOHN SAKALA
Mikalile Investments has geared up to construct a US $20 million four star Hotel and Shopping Mall at Kasama Golf Club.
This came to light after the firm presented has submitted its Architectural Designs for the development of the two facilities.
Mikalile Investments Chief Executive Mulenga Mikalile said about 1, 200 direct and indirect jobs are expected to be created at construction and operational stages.
Mr Mikalile said 700 of which will be available during the construction stage while 500 permanent jobs will be available at operational stage
The 100 rooms Hotel application becomes the third bid following earlier submissions by two other companies and paves way for the Provincial Administration through the Kasama Golf Club, the owners of the land set aside for the development to close the deal for commencement of construction.
He said the firm intends to complete Phase one of the development and open the Shopping Mall, the Mikalile Departmental Store and a distribution centre by next year.
The second phase which will see the completion of the hotel, four conference rooms, Gymnasium and a Filling Station will be completed by 2021.
And Mr Kamanga expressed excitement that the Investment presents to the tourism Industry in the Province which has been hampered by lack of serious Investment in conference facilities.
“I therefore wish to appeal to the Kasama Municipal Authorities and the Kasama Golf Club and all other Government Agencies to avoid unnecessary bureaucratic tendencies so as to expedite Investment as the people of Kasama and the Province as a whole where in a hurry to see development.
“This has greatly cheered us at Provincial Administration as we have been assured by the Leadership at Kasama Golf Club that a select Committee will soon sit to consider the applications and award the successful bidder that could see one of the first positive outcomes of the Investment Expo held only three months ago,” he said.
Mr Kamanga said the invest submission of the designs meant the province could see the commencement of construction of the facilities by May this year.
He said Mikalile that already run a chain of Hotels and Departmental Stores in Zambia, Mozambique and Tanzania has indicated that they could move on sight as early as April once all procedures are concluded with Provincial Administration, Kasama Municipal Council and the Golf Club.
“The Company has indicated in its bid that it will as a matter of priority start with the Modernisation of the Kasama Golf which will anchor the Multi Million Investment. The modernisation of the Golf Club will include among other things development of a state of the art nine hole Golf course, construction of an administration block, complete with conference facilities, club house, kitchen and restaurant, gymnasium a sports multi facilities Centre and a play centre for Children in support of Junior Golf.
“All the above facilities are to be fully furnished and equipped by Mikalile Investments and will be completed and handed over to the Golf Club before commencement of construction of the Hotel and Shopping Mall,” he said.
