State irked by shoddy road works

Government says shoddy road works, particularly by local contractors, is a great source of concern.

Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice President Friday Malwa says it was disheartening to see that some local contractors are derailing government efforts to develop and provide better services to the Zambian people by doing shoddy works.

Mr. Malwa says the construction industry in the country should improve in order to avoid complaints from the public about the shoddy works the road sector has continued to record.

The Deputy Minister was speaking in an interview with ZANIS shortly after touring the washed away Lusitu Bridge in Siavonga district.

He said government would like to see a situation where Zambia’s meager resources were put to good use for the country to have a good road network, which could in turn help to reduce poverty and improve transportation of agricultural yields especially in rural areas.

Mr. Malwa further said that there was need for road contractors to regain their reputation by providing quality road works.

He pointed out that some local contractors fail to do satisfactory jobs especially in the road construction saying its time they worked hard to do their best if they are not to be sidelined by government.

Mr. Malwa stated that some local contractors working on most roads were frustrating government’s efforts to develop rural areas and need not feel sidelined if government left them out.

He warned of punitive measures to all road contractors who are doing shoddy works adding that road contractors who will not be finishing the works on the agreeable time would be surcharged.

The Deputy Minister has since directed the National Council for Construction (NCC) to help government address issues of shoddy works in the road construction sector.

He further appealed to road engineers and inspectors to provide government with accurate information in order to avoid shoddy works being carried out on the Zambian roads.