Govt Denies Selling Mfuwe’s Chichele Presidential Lodge

THE government has dispelled claims that Chichele Presidential Lodge in Mfuwe has been sold but says the facility is only being leased.

Last week, Eastern Province MMD spokesperson Zephaniah Kaleya claimed that he was much aware that the Presidential Lodge was being sold and that the deal was almost concluded. In a statement, Kaleya, who is former Hotel, Catering, Tourism and Allied Workers Union of Zambia Eastern Province secretary, stated that a lot of businessmen were fighting to buy the lodge.

“Zambians of Asian origin who already own several prime hunting blocks have battled to grab Chichele Presidential Lodge and a known white guy already in the industry in Mfuwe is up to get a one time Kenneth Kaunda’s favourite facility,” stated Kaleya.

But when asked to comment on the matter during Breeze FM’s The Voice programme, Eastern Province permanent secretary Chanda Kasolo said government was only putting the lodge on lease.

“The point is that, that lodge belongs to GRZ, it is a government institution. What we do is that we sell the lease for a number of years and then at the end of that lease, it comes back to government. So the current lease is about to run out so they advertise to go and sell before it runs out and they have the right to do that. I can’t remember the remaining number of years,” said Kasolo.

“It’s not confirmed that (the lease) is sold yet, I think negotiations are still ongoing but if it is sold to a Zambian, I will support that, including trying to extend the lease for them because we would like Zambians to take a bit of charge.”

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