Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha says Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are key to mobilising private sector investment and addressing Zambia’s infrastructure financing gap. Mr. Kabesha says Government is continuing to promote PPPs as a strategy to accelerate infrastructure…

Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha says Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are key to mobilising private sector investment and addressing Zambia’s infrastructure financing gap.

Mr. Kabesha says Government is continuing to promote PPPs as a strategy to accelerate infrastructure development and support sustainable economic growth.

Speaking at the Law, Justice and Development Forum for Attorneys General and Ministers of Justice in Washington, DC, Mr. Kabesha said private investment was critical to meeting the country’s infrastructure needs.

He cited the 650-million-US-dollar Lusaka-Ndola Dual Carriageway, the Chingola-Kasumbalesa Road and the Luanshya-Fisenge-Masangano Road as examples of infrastructure projects being implemented through PPP arrangements.

Mr. Kabesha said attracting sustainable private investment required strong legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks, as well as effective coordination among public institutions.

He said the Ministry of Justice had promoted the inclusion of dispute resolution clauses referring parties to the Lusaka International Arbitration Centre to strengthen investor confidence.

Mr. Kabesha said Government was committed to balancing investors’ expectations for reasonable returns with its responsibility to safeguard the public interest.

He said the approach was intended to ensure that PPP projects delivered value for money and long-term benefits to the country.

Mr. Kabesha further said strengthening project preparation and operationalising the Project Development Support Fund under the Public-Private Partnership Act No. 18 of 2023 would enable Zambia to develop bankable projects in key sectors, including energy, transport, water and sanitation.