MORE than 1,000 families settled at the Lusaka South Multi-facility Economic Zone (MFEZ) land have agreed to shift to any alternative place that Government will offer.

Lusaka South MFEZ managing director Fortune Kamusaki said at the weekend that the affected families were being handled through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU).

Mr Kamusaki said details of the families had been collected and handed over to the DMMU which would compensate them and offer them alternative land.

He said a request for funding to compensate the affected families had already been forwarded to the Treasury and that the families would relocate as soon as the money was released.

"We have already engaged the families and they have understood and are willing to move so that construction of the MFEZ can go ahead," Mr Kamusaki said.

He said several companies had shown interest in putting up enterprises at the MFEZ, which was expected to create hundreds of jobs.

Last Thursday, Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda toured the MFEZ area and was pleased with the progress at the facility.

Mr Chikwanda said the expressions of interest had been made by companies such as Zambian Breweries to invest more than US$35 million, and Alliance One which intended to invest $40 million.