By NORMA SIAME –

THE Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has said there is a blatant disregard for adherence to standards in most Government funded projects in Muchinga and Northern provinces.

The committee bemoaned the trend most prevalent among local contractors, saying it was depriving Zambians of the benefits of Government’s investment in social services.

PAC chairperson Vincent Mwale said after inspecting Government funded projects in the two provinces that had come under scrutiny in Parliament, that it was sad most of the works were sub-standard and had gone beyond scheduled completion dates.

Mr Mwale was speaking when he paid a courtesy call on provincial Permanent Secretary Hlobota Nkunika before proceeding with other committee members to inspect the newly built building that would house the regional ZANIS printing press and Kasama Airport.

“Most contractors think they can do shoddy works and get away with it. In Nakonde, a contractor that bid and won a contract to put up a secondary school is nowhere to be seen. This is despite Government paying K6 million for the project,” he said.

Lamenting the complacency exhibited by a contractor in Mpulungu tasked with putting up a district hospital, Mr Mwale said dragging works were depriving the public of access to the much needed health services.

The committee also discovered that line ministries were also contributing to delays by holding on to funds instead of releasing them to contractors on time.

Mr Mwale called for the enforcement of regulations governing the use of public funds and called on controlling officers like Mr Nkunika to be vigilant and ensure contractors were sticking to the terms of reference.

Among the recommendations the committee intends to present Parliament after winding down its work, include the blacklisting of erring contractors, the dismissal of public service workers failing to effectively monitor projects.