By DELPHINE ZULU-
THE Road Development Agency (RDA) has urged the Engineering Institution of Zambia (EIZ) to come up with a scheme to attach students to Chinese companies working on various roads in the country.
RDA Board’s risk and audit committee members said the need to attach students to Chinese road contractors was to ensure that there was transfer of skills to the local people.
In her presentation to Avic International Construction after touring the Sioma Bridge which will connect Senanga-Sesheke Road on the Zambezi River, delegation leader, Chishala Kateka said there was need for Chinese skills to be transferred to Zambians.
“Zambians also need to benefit from the specialised Chinese skills,” Ms Kateka said. “They come in the country, get various contracts, especially in construction and then go. This country has so many graduates in Engineering,  we need to attach some people in these companies so that skills are transferred.”
She said the skills would remain in the country and could easily be used by locals for the benefit of the nation and probably reduce other expenses on Chinese companies.
Ms Kateka was impressed with the works on the Sioma Bridge by China Henan International Cooperation, which are at 30 per cent physical progress and are expected to be completed on December 31, 2015.
She said this was a vital road which needed to be completed on schedule to allow massive business between Zambia and Namibia as well as attract tourists to the country.
The committee also urged Avic International to review safety measures for all employees to avoid further accidents.
The committee said  Avic needed to review its safety policy and put in stringent measures to avoid further accidents and deaths,  adding that the  death of an employee on August 28 while on duty after he plunged into the Zambezi River around 03:00 hours was an indication of negligence.
“You must ensure that your safety policies are reviewed, your employees must be priority. As a committee we were saddened by the death of Kennedy Kakoma and you did not inform us, we only heard from the media. This is sad but in the future, engage the police and RTSA to avoid further deaths,” the committee said.