Government has said it anticipates to incur over K100 million in expenditure for it to successfully host the 4th African Union mid-year coordination meeting in Lusaka, Zambia next week.
And government said it is expecting 3,500 visitors in the country who will participate in this high level meeting which has also attracted 13 Heads of States and 51 member states who will all convene in Lusaka from 14th to 17th July, 2022.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations Assistant Director for Regional Integration Lubasi Mungandi disclosed this to journalists during an orientation workshop on coverage of the 4th AU mid-year coordination meeting.
Mr Mungandi said there is a budget estimation of about K100 million from government expenditure but it is expected that the private sector will take a huge chunk of the cost for hosting this meeting.
Mr Mungandi said the ministerial committee has spoken to the private sector to assist government take up some of the costs and that there is positive response so far.
He said engagement with the Bankers Association of Zambia was also held where there was also positive response in terms of supporting the hosting of the African Union Lusaka summit.
Meanwhile, Mr Mungandi said Lusaka has adequate capacity to accommodate all the 3,500 delegates expected to arrive in Zambia for the AU meeting next week.
Mr Mungandi however said despite most facilities not having 5 star hotel standards, the places offering acommodation in Lusaka are far much better than in some countries he has visited before.
He said the AU inspection team which was brought in Zambia twice was very impressed with the standards of hotels and shopping malls in Lusaka.
Mr Mungandi has since challenged entrepreneurs to invest in more 5 star hotels for purposes of such meetings in the future to accommodate delegates.
© Pungwa Online News
