Government has expressed concern over the low participation of Local Contractors in the execution of high value infrastructure projects in the country.
In a speech read for him by the Assistant Secretary Sineva Kambenja, Northern Province Permanent Secretary Dr. Jobbicks Kalumba said government is working tirelessly to provide an avenue through the National Council for Construction (NCC) to build capacity for local contractors.
Dr. Kalumba added that government values the contribution of foreign contractors in the construction industry, stressing however, that
foreign contractors will not always be available hence, the need for local contractors to spearhead the development agenda of the nation.
And Dr. Kalumba has since, commended the NCC for equipping 34 individuals with skills in cobalt stone paving in the province.
He said the training of these individuals will go a long way in improving the competency and skills of the contractors in the paving industry.
Meanwhile, Principal for NCC School, Architect. Chance Kaonga said there is need to nurture local contractors so they can compete on the international scene.
Architect. Kaonga has also urged the grandaunts to show diligence in the execution of their duties as a way of remaining relevant in the industry.
He has also sent a stern warning to graduates against involving themselves in illegal activities, stressing that the law will catch up with them once they are found wanting.
The National Council for Construction in collaboration with the Road Development Agency (RDA) has trained 34 people in Northern Province in cobalt Stone Paving.
When Zambians apply for government contract they are not give, GRZ prefers Chinese contractors because they give big kick-backs.
So a local contractor, when they apply 10 times and they are not awarded, they stop applying….. I than hard to figure out why they don’t participated? It is hard to enter a competition when you already know the winner.
Same old story. When they are given they abandon works and do shoddy jobs. And the cycle continues.
DID YOU EMPOWER THEM TO ACQUIRE CAPITAL GOODS AND SKILLS NEEDED? THOSE CHINESE COMPANIES ARE SPONSORED BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WITH A SPECIAL BANK SET UP BY THE GOVERNMENT SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT. READ HORWARD FRENCH BOOK ABOUT CHINA AND AFRICA.
please government Ministers and PS stop lying to people. you making us local contractors poor and poorer. You give jobs that can be done by local contractors to the Chinese and when you give jobs you take a year or two to pay us by then the banks will have sold our houses or about to. please you don’t stay in America not to know what’s going on. The system is very bad and its very simple to read between the line. You dont care for us till election day.
It seems all these lazy ministers are already on holiday everyone of their speeches is being read for them. How do expect local contractors to participate when all contracts are signed via China EXIM Bank?
It’s very hard and expensive to own a business in zambia with high interest rates. It makes the cost of doing business extremely difficult.
Which Government? Is there something I am missing here? Anyway this is just time wasting.
Please don’t engage Zambian contractors. They do poor quality jobs with the workers stealing all the materials for the job and do very poor quality works. Give them a job that’s supposed to take one month it will take one year. Awe tekwesha.
It is time we know that the consultant is responsible for the success and or failure of the project and not the contractor.