Union backs cancellation of KK airport Guris deal

Union backs cancellation of KK airport Guris deal
By Fridah Nkonde in Ndola
Mon 19 Dec. 2011, 13:58 CAT

PRESIDENT Michael Sata should stand by his decision to cancel the contract awarded to a Turkish holding to construct and manage Kenneth Kaunda International Airport for 50 years, says Airways and Allied Workers Union of Zambia.

In an interview on Saturday, union general secretary Whiteson Kalunga said the cancellation should stand looking at the importance of the institution.
He said the government could still improve the airport using taxpayers' money instead of bequeathing all government properties to foreign investors.

"This can lead to people losing their jobs just like what happened when Zamtel was sold. The previous government ended up losing 48 parastatal companies, Zamtel inclusive," he said.

Kalunga said workers believed and trusted that the current government under President Sata could manage to run this country.

Kalunga said the country would not benefit anything in having the Turkish holding to construct and manage Kenneth Kaunda International Airport for 50 years.

The Turkish government has asked President Sata to reverse his earlier decision to cancel a licence awarded to Guris Holding.

Turkish Minister of Economy Zafer Çalayan said before signing an agreement on trade and economic cooperation with Zambia's commerce minister Bob Sichinga on Friday that Guris Holding, which was halted from reconstructing the country's biggest airport was eager to start the works.

Guris was awarded the contract by former president Rupiah Banda's regime.
But on October 14, President Sata cancelled the deal, saying building a new airport was an important venture and needed Cabinet approval and advertising.