Tourism and Arts Permanent Secretary Rev Howard Sikwela says the Samfya Beach Development Project is a springboard for the growth and development of tourism resources in the northern circuit.

And Rev Sikwela has described the Project as “a great concept and game changer.”

Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Samfya District Commissioner (DC) Nason Bwalya at his office yesterday, the PS said the Government through his Ministry would immediately inject an initial ZMK765, 000 for the council start development activities at Lake Bangweulu.

Rev. Sikwela said a total of ZMK3.7 million would be invested in the initiative by the end of the project, which money he said, was mobilised through the Tourism Development Fund.

He expressed happiness that stakeholders were working together to bring the project into actualisation.

Meanwhile DC Bwalya said the project, once complete, would change the economic profile of the district through tourism.

He said the people of Samfya had accepted the project as they had been engaged from its inception.

And Moses Mwape, a fisherman in the area, said the project would help communities because fishing was no longer viable following the depletion of fish stock in the lake.