A local contractor, Citizens Porch Trading Limited, has urged fellow local contractors to perform accordingly for them to benefit from the 20 percent sub-contracting policy.
Citizens Porch Trading Limited Proprietor Moses Lungu tells Money FM News that some foreign contractors are skeptical about some local companies doing quality works.
Mr. Lungu says some foreign contractors fear that the locals can hinder them from finishing the works on time as well as doing good works.
He has however praised AVIC International Limited that it is complying with the 20 percent sub-contracting policy which was introduced by the government.
“Some foreign contractors are apprehensive because they don’t want to fail in terms of delivering the projects on time when they engage local contractors. Let me advise my fellow local contractors to do the works accordingly so that we continue to benefit from the 20 percent sub-contracting policy which the government introduced,” he said.
Mr. Lungu also notes that lack of skills is a challenge for some local contractors and hence the need for institutions such as the National Council for Construction (NCC) to enhance capacity building initiatives to help local contractors.
Earlier this year, the government through the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development has directed all foreign Contractors to adhere to the twenty percent sub contraction policy to Zambian contractors across the country.
It is LAW that a minimum of 20 percent of all government funded contracts such as road contracts awarded by the Road Development Agency, Local road authorities and other government institutions be executed by Zambian owned companies in line with the share-holding structure specified in the Citizen Economic Empowerment act no.9 of 2006.