By MAYA NTANDA –

GOVERNMENT has said local contractors’ participation in the construction industry is cardinal for the country to develop.

Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Minister Yamfwa Mukanga said President Michael Sata had embarked on various developmental programmes in line with the Patriotic Front (PF) manifesto to ensure equitable development in the country.

Mr Mukanga said during the Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors (ABCEC) workshop in Kitwe yesterday that projects such as construction of roads, bridges and buildings had been undertaken countrywide.

He said the environment was ripe for all stakeholders in the construction industry to take part and that local contractors should be empowered in terms of skills and machinery to ensure that the efforts were sustained.

The minister said Government through the Road Development Agency (RDA) and the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) came up with 20 per cent sub-contracts to Zambian companies and the contract financing initiative (CFI) to enable locals access equipment.

Mr Mukanga said the process was being monitored to ensure that the local contractors were not disadvantaged.

He said jobs should be done by Zambian companies even in the construction sector.

ABCEC president Michael Nyirenda suggested that procurement of building works and supervision should be under the Ministry of Transport,Works, Suppy and Communication to ensure harmony and standardisation.

Mr Nyirenda also said contract document should be standardised to avoid delays that arise at the Attorney General’s office.