Government says the tendency by local contractors to perform sub-standard works should come to an end.
Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development, Ronald Chitotela says government is keen to see local contractors flourish in the construction industry but unfortunately some have failed to perform to expected standards.
Mr Chitotela states that the construction industry plays a fundamental role in the development of the country’s economy hence the reason government through the National Council for Construction (NCC) has embarked on a vigorous capacity building of contractors through the construction school.
ZANIS reports that the minister said this in a speech read for him by his Permanent Secretary Charles Mushota during the 8th combined graduation ceremony for national Council for construction (NCC)-Construction School in Lusaka, today.
He further said government will ensure increased access to training by rolling out NCC programmes to all provincial centers.
The minister has since urged all departments and agencies involved in infrastructure development to ensure that sustainable project packaging is implemented.
He said government is in a hurry to get more local contractors in the higher grades of NCC” Contractor Registration Grading Scheme because it is the only way to ensure meaningful participation of local contractors in infrastructure development in the country.
Mr. Chitotela further said it is government’s priority that that Zambians are in the driving seat of the construction sector despite foreign partners being brought on board.
And NCC Executive director, Matthew Ngulube said the 314 grandaunts have undergone training in various TEVETA approved skills at the NCC Construction School from June last year to June this year.
Mr. Ngulube called on the grandaunts to execute their duties professionally by making good use of the skills that they acquired and contribute meaningfully to good infrastructure development in the country.
You have an illegal president with a substandard brain who runs a substandard government and you expect contractors to not give you substandard works?? Are you guys normal
We love our great president, ecl we mbwa wee iwee NEZ…!
It is not just local contractors who perform sub-standard works even foreign contractors.
Well done for pushing for enhancing skills….
It is NOT ONLY ABOUT SKILLS!! Many Zambian and even foreign contractors know what is expected of them BUT CORRUPTION FROM HIGH RANKING POLITICAL PLAYERS AND TECHNOCRATS COMPEL THEM TO LOWER STANDARDS IN ORDER TO SAVE SOME MONEY TO PAY BRIBES!! IF the sector was to be left to run COMPETITIVELY,APPLYING ALL RULES, BY NOW THE LOCAL and EVEN FOREIGN CONTRACTORS CHITOTELA IS COMPLAINING ABOUT COULD HAVE VANISHED FROM THE SCENE, IN PRISON FOR FLEECING ZAMBIAN TAX PAYERS!!
Good morning all. Minister Chitotela is new in Construction. Mali Dr.was daily blaming Zambian Contractors until he fell off. If you contracted us Zambians in USD as you do to other Foreign Contractors can we Fail,No. ? Give us A Level Plying Field. Payments Favour Foreign Contractors under instruction by Min.Chitotela himself. Performing Zambian Contractors ‘re ignored and paid little ,hence affecting their Project Cashflow.
Give us Equal opportunities as you do to Fereign Contractors and you will see Wonders from Zambian Cotractors.2. Award all Contracts ONLY TO QUALIFIED AND TRAINED CONTRACTORS and you will see wonders..3.Consultants ,,fresh and new Consultants ,,let them make Cost effective Engineering Estimates,without fearing their Clients,,,too protective of their Employers,as…
We have local contractors in the skin of black zambians and Chinese zambians…these can really do shoddy works or not at all. If we tried American or Portuguese or Japanese and even our neighbours South Africa, we will not talk of shoddy works…some contractors do not even have money in the zapit Accounts and you expect them to execute what?