Housing and Infrastructure Development Minister Ronald Chitotela has disclosed that a total of K1.3 billion and an additional K800 million was recently paid to local contractors while K500 Million is what foreign contractors earned.

The Housing and Infrastructure Development Minister has also refuted claims that the Government is in the habit of favoring Chinese contractors at the expense of local ones.

Mr. Chitotela says the relationship with Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) International started a long time ago since 1970’s, during the reign of First Republican President.

Dr. Kenneth Kaunda and not under the Patriotic Front (PF) regime as insinuated by some stakeholders of the mutual Sino-Zambia bilateral political and development bond.

Mr. Chitotela says the Mongu – Kalabo Road was awarded to Avic International by the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) leadership of Rupiah Banda but implemented by the PF Government.

Mr. Chitotela says it is worrying to see politicians trying to gain cheap political mileage misleading the nation that government is prioritizing foreign contractors when it comes to payments for work done country wide.

Mr. Chitotela has reiterated government’s commitment to pay all local contractors, pointing out that both Road Development Agency (RDA) and National Road Fund Authority remain impressed with performance of Zambian contractors.