By MOFFAT CHAZINGWA –

CONSTRUCTION of a multi-purpose complex housing a shopping mall and a three-star hotel has commenced in Solwezi District in North-Western Province.
Solwezi Municipal Council assistant public relations manager Thandiwe Tembo said four hectares of land within the old Show grounds had already been allocated to the developer of the Solwezi City Mall.
Ms Tembo said in an interview yesterday that the shopping mall was a milestone to the development of the fast growing town as the complex would be the first of its kind not only in the district but the province as a whole.
Significant progress in the development of the shopping mall had been made with the developer having already completed issues of relocation and compensation.
About 170 households had been moved from the show grounds area to Mushitala Market area to pave way for construction of the shopping complex.
“Compensation is in twofold. We have monetary based on evaluation report which was done last year in June and also land,” she said.
A budget of K8, 386, 100 had been set aside for the relocation and compensation exercise.
Ms Tembo said all the makeshift structures that were standing on the site of the new shopping complex had been razed in readiness for commencement of the project whose construction period was estimated to be 12 months.
She expressed happiness with the shopping mall complex because apart from creating employment opportunities to the locals the project would also give a facelift to Solwezi.