By SARAH MWANZA  –
THE Government has urged local contractors to improve their performance if they are to continue undertaking various projects around the country.
Transport, Works, Supply, and Communications Deputy Minister Mutaba Mwali said foreign contractors had continued to prove that they were committed and capable of executing Government projects compared to local ones.
Dr Mwali said this when he toured the construction works in the newly-created Limulunga District of Western Province.
After the tour, Dr Mwali said it was disappointing to find that works by local contractors were still at a slow pace compared to those being undertaken by a Chinese contractor.
He toured the projects in four districts of Nkeyema, Mitete, Luampa and Limulunga where only the Chinese contractor building an administrative block in Limulunga had managed to carry out the works within the stipulated timeframe.
Dr Mwali said it was a pity to find that Zambian contractors were failing to execute their projects citing the bad terrain but, surprisingly, the Chinese contractor had managed to do the works despite encountering similar challenges of bad terrain.
“Our Zambian contractors keep on giving excuses. These contracts were awarded to contractors at the same time and a Chinese company, Walltech, has managed to work within the stipulated period,” he said.
Dr Mwali said the Government was committed to ensuring that all works were completed within the specified timeframe and this was the reason why all the contractors were given their advance payments.
He said in as much as the Government wanted to empower Zambians, it would not hesitate to terminate their contracts based on shoddy performance.
“We want to empower our own contractors but it is a pity that they have kept on frustrating Government efforts,” Dr Mwali said.
Limulunga District Commissioner Litambo Ndombo expressed concern at the slow pace of executing various projects in the district.