Government has assured contractors whose projects had stalled in the last two years of funding to enable them resume their construction works.
Government Spokesperson, Dora Siliya said government has already started paying some small Zambian contractors and will soon be moving to bigger contractors.
Ms Siliya told ZANIS in an interview that as of Friday last week, government had already paid about K200 million to some small contractors.
She disclosed this following concerns raised by the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) on Agriculture on the delayed payments of contractors who were constructing dip tanks in Katete District.
Ms Siliya who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister said the delay in payment was purely due to treasury constraints that had been caused by the economic recession experienced in 2014 and 2015.
“Because of the economic recession, as government we decided to concentrate on priority areas like health. The Minister of Finance has started paying off some small scale contractors and will soon move to bigger contractors so that all projects in the country that had stopped in the last one to two years can commence,” she said.
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) on agriculture, Chairperson Howard Kunda said the committee was in the district to check on three dip tank projects that were funded under the euro bond.
Mr. Kunda who is also Muchinga Member of Parliament (MP) said the committee wants to ensure that there is accountability and value for money used in the implementation of the projects.
He said the committee was impressed with two of the three projects as people were accessing the services adding that works for the other dip tank had stalled because of delayed funding from government.
“We are appealing to government to ensure that they pay the contractors so that they can finish the project so that our people can benefit from the services,” he said.
Well done Madam minister! More work projects to point at while he keeps stealing land in Namwala! Run away before it comes!
That Dora, small and big contractors?? A worker is a worker. Contractor is contractor.
Boobies are boobies, what’s your size, small or big?
From hand to mouth – very tough, too unstable.
She is not even being honest …where have they got the money..how do you expect a small contractor to finish the job when you have not paid them for 2 years…its laughable as all the money paid goes towards debt.
Blind being led by the blind. Zambia heading into a ditch
So someone in the government chew the money and bought Range Rovers instead of paying contractors
Sharon,
Did you hear of any IMF loan lately? There’s no money in Zambia. They won’t finish any project at all. You will keep supporting and yelling for your Lungu and PF, but they keep disappointing you. Those dips are to help them to dip their fingers in the government coffers.
Hon. is definitely better at PR than she was last time under RB. She doesn’t antagonize anybody but points to facts while stressing positive. Like her or not, she has improved her game!
I meant “yesterday”
Imagine you are a Zambian contractor and Govt has not paid you and the project has stalled on a project for 2 years ..you have obtained a loan from the Bank for machinery at 30% APR …surely how can you survive and compete with the Chine contractors and you wonder where the Zambian contractors are.
This is unacceptable …..
@Jay Jay, we missed you Saturday on the discussing of the bye election were UPND were hit hard. People were looking for you.
It has arrived!
Complete ndola Lusaka carriage way :new districts:healthposts left by the Indian Angelique in northwestern province and other infrustructure.you will be assured of landslide victory in 2021
It is prudent to start a project when you have secured the monies. The reason the projects are started without full funding is to get the 10% cut! You are running circles around yourselves. These projects will cost a fortune in escalation fees due to time and finance overruns – all of which taxpayer’s money! Its another way of plundering state resources by a thieving government.
Exactly these dingbats think making a payment on a stalled project after 2 years is like turning on a switch …who pays the contractor for all the delays and if he is working on another part of the country who pays for transport.
Maggie Mwanakatwe said all govt debt was being serviced and that is what they mean after not paying someone for two years! They have just robbed Peter to pay Paul here , nothing has changed. There is somebody whose payments will be delayed in order to accommodate the contractors.
It is certainly a wizard!
(Not the beautiful woman in the photo!)
Have you borrowed again?