Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development Permanent Secretary Charles Mushota has encouraged local contractors to take advantage of the K2.2 billion allocated towards skills development in the 2019 national budget.

Mr. Mushota says the local contractors should take advantage of this and ensure they acquire necessary skills in order to compete with foreign contractors.

He is also concerned that the money allocated towards housing in the 2019 national budget is not enough and hence the need for the private sector to take advantage of this and partner with government in housing development.

He says Zambia’s contractors do not have enough skills to do major contracts and hence the need for them to ensure that they acquire the required skills and get more contracts.

Mr. Mushota says the local contractors should also take advantage of the twenty percent sub contract policy and get contracts in order for them to build on their already acquired skills.