Zambian Minister Champions Public Private Partnerships for Infrastructure and Energy Projects
Hon. Charles Milupi, Minister of Infrastructure, Housing, and Urban Development, has reiterated the Zambian Government’s commitment to delivering commercially viable infrastructure and energy projects, as well as public services, through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs).
Addressing the 4th Ordinary Session of the Specialised Technical Committee on Transport, Transcontinental and Interregional Infrastructure and Energy in Zanzibar, Tanzania, Minister Milupi explained that the Government is actively pursuing partnerships with the private sector to alleviate fiscal pressures. This approach allows the government to allocate savings from economically vital but non-commercially viable projects to attract private investment.
In a statement released by Mrs. Inutu Mupango Mwanza, the First Secretary for Press and Tourism at the Zambia Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Minister Milupi emphasized that President Hakainde Hichilema, an advocate for PPPs, views private sector engagement as an efficient and reliable method of delivering infrastructure projects on time.
Despite inheriting a substantial debt burden from the previous government, the current administration is moving forward with the construction and rehabilitation of public roads and bridges using the Public Private Partnership financing model. Notable projects under this model include the Chingola–Chililabombwe Road and the Lusaka Ndola dual carriageway.
In the energy sector, Zambia has successfully implemented four projects through the Public Private Partnership model, attracting billions of dollars in investment.
Minister Milupi reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with neighbouring countries to facilitate the delivery of high-quality infrastructure projects and promote continental integration.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) commended Zambia for being one of the six African countries leading the way in the promotion of Public Private Partnerships for infrastructure development. Mr. Robert Lisinge, Chief of the Energy, Infrastructure, and Services section of the Private Sector Development and Finance Division at UNECA, praised Zambia for its proactive stance in ensuring infrastructure development involves both the government and private sector.
Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid, the African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, urged member states to support the Continental Programme for Infrastructure Development (PIDA) in Africa. PIDA promotes the development of priority regional and continental infrastructure in transport, energy, transboundary water, and ICT.
The 4th Ordinary Session centered around the theme of “Accelerating Infrastructure to Deliver on Agenda 2063 Aspirations.”
