Kansanshi Mining and Solwezi Municipality Collaborate on Road Upgrading Project
In a promising partnership aimed at enhancing the infrastructure in Solwezi, Kansanshi Mining Plc General Manager, Anthony Mukutuma, and Solwezi Mayor, Remmy Kalepa, have jointly inaugurated the commencement of an extensive road upgrading project covering 4.3 kilometers within the township.
This substantial initiative is being undertaken at a cost of K29 million kwacha and is facilitated through a mutual debt-swap arrangement between Kansanshi Mining Plc, a subsidiary of First Quantum Minerals (FQM), and the Solwezi Municipal Council. The project is set to significantly improve the quality of road infrastructure in the area, ultimately benefiting the local community.
Under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Kansanshi Mining Plc, through its Sites Services Department (formerly FQMO Roads), will oversee the transformation of the 4.3-kilometer section of township roads into a bituminous standard.
This upgrade is not merely a surface treatment but includes meticulous attention to road drainage design, engineering, and installation to ensure durability and longevity.
Mr. Mukutuma, during a visit to the office of Solwezi Mayor Remmy Kalepa, expressed the mine’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that the upgraded roads meet high-quality standards that will withstand the test of time.
He further emphasized the mine’s eagerness to collaborate closely with Solwezi Municipal Council and the Provincial Administration to contribute to the development of Solwezi into a city with top-notch infrastructure.
Mr. Mukutuma reassured Mayor Kalepa that Kansanshi Mining Plc is dedicated to completing the road upgrades before the onset of the rainy season.
Mayor Kalepa welcomed and applauded the commitment exhibited by Kansanshi mine, characterizing it as a clear indicator of the strengthened relationship between the mine and the municipal council. He emphasized that this partnership holds great promise for the ongoing development of Solwezi.
Under the MoU, both the mine and the council share a common vision of fostering the growth and development of Solwezi and North Western Province, transforming it into a thriving urban center that befits its status as a major mining town.
This collaboration underscores the importance of public-private partnerships in driving progress and improving the living standards of local communities.
