GOVERNMENT has commissioned 976 solar powered street lights in the tourism capital at a total cost of K24, 344, 836 VAT inclusive to boost safety, tourism and support the newly approved 24 hour economy.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony last night, Tourism Minister Rodney Sikumba said the project is a clear demonstration of government’s commitment to transforming Livingstone into a modern, smart and sustainable tourism city.
Sikumba said the installation of the street lights was being implemented by the Ministry of Tourism under the Green, Resilient and Transformational Tourism Development Project (GREAT-TDP) with support from the World Bank.
He said government could not fully develop Zambia’s tourism agenda without continuously improving Livingstone which remains the country’s tourist capital and gateway for international visitors.
“This project is not just about infrastructure, it is about transforming Livingstone into a modern, smart and sustainable tourism city,” said Sikumba.
He noted that President Hakainde Hichilema had placed tourism at the centre of the country’s development agenda and had over the past four years played the role of Zambia’s “chief promoter” by marketing the country across different sectors.
Sikumba also said the commissioning of the street lights was a direct response to the President’s call for infrastructure development that drives economic growth, job creation and improved livelihoods.
“Modern solar street lights will enhance safety and security, support the city’s aspiration to operate as a 24 hour economy and create jobs across the supply chain,” he said.
“This means that resources which would otherwise have been spent on power consumption can be directed towards the maintenance of this infrastructure and other public service priorities.”
He further revealed that the Livingstone Town Centre Development Programme also includes other infrastructure works such as the rehabilitation and upgrade of 8.31 kilometres of city centre roads, with works expected to begin in May 2026.
Sikumba said the programme was being implemented through a collaborative approach involving several institutions, among them the Livingstone City Council, Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, Road Development Agency, Civil Aviation Authority, Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Zambia Tourism Agency and Zambia Statistics Agency.
He stressed that government does not work in isolation but in collaboration with other ministries, departments and agencies to deliver meaningful development.
“As area Member of Parliament for Livingstone Constituency, allow me to say to the people of Livingstone, we are fixing this city, step by step, project by project,” said Sikumba.
And Livingstone deputy mayor Robert Wandila urged residents, businesses and tourism institutions to safeguard the newly installed infrastructure and ensure its long term sustainability.
Wamundila thanked the Ministry of Tourism for its continued investment in the tourism capital city, saying such initiatives drive local development.
Kalemba, March 25, 2026
