MUKWIMA CHILALA writes
THE Lusaka Golf club has signed a 50 year leasewill also see the club get a face lift in the next five years.
The golf club signed lease agreement with Time Project that will build a five star hotel, Residential housing complex, Office park, club house and refurbishing if the golf course.
And Club captain Noel Nkhoma said signing the agreement with the developer was a milestone in the history of Lusaka Golf Club.
Nkhoma noted that in over 30 years the golf club has failed to implement any projects because of some ‘politicking’. “We have been trying to refurbish the golf club for over 30 years and all the time we stand, we have court cases and injunctions. This is the first time we have reached this far and signed for the project to commence,” Nkhomasaid.
He said the project will not only benefit the golf club but the entire country as it will create employment and also its location being in the prime area of Lusaka.
“What we are witnessing today is a milestone in the history of Lusaka Golf ,from the time we started the project two years ago we are seeing the fruits of the efforts that has gone into this project,” he said.
He thanked the patron of the club the Republican President Edgar Lungu who has offered guidance through ministry of land, Tourism and Sports.
“The face lift will boast the earning capacity of the golf club. It will bring in some financial leverage, we used to have 3,000 members but today we only have a 1,000 plus,” Nkhoma said.
And Time projects Zambia Director Heinrich Malan said he was expected that they would be giving the Lusaka golf club a new era.
He said he was excited that after one year and six months of background work the project can proceed.
“We are from Botswana and we have worked in Zambia for 30 years .Ijust want to thank the Lusaka Golf Club for their input and today we have arrived at this .We shall give the club house a new era and in the process work with the building committee to do want the members want,” Malan said.
Malan said the project will be done in three phases starting with up grading the course to great standards.
And club trustee Patrick Chisanga that he was confident that the developer will deliver on the mandate that they have been given.
Chisanga and Honourable Alexander Chikwanda are the trustees and are custodians of the club.
Chisanga said him and Chikwanda had thoroughly gone through the documentations and where satisfied with the agreement.
“As trustees our responsibility is to the members of the golf club and our role is to safe guard assets and interests of our members. We have closely monitored the developments leading to the signing of agreements and we are satisfied with the procedure. It has been inclusive and no stone has been left unturned,” Chisanga said.
He said the golf club was in desperate need of a refurbishment stating that no major works have been done on it in over 50 years.
“We have golfers that have travelled to places and can testify that LGC being the prime golf club is in desperate need of an upgrade,” he said.
