A FEW years ago, the Government directed the Road Development Agency (RDA) to ensure that at least 20 per cent of all subcontracted road works are given to firms with majority Zambian ownership interest.
Under the arrangement, the RDA would pre-select subcontractors, predefine the works that they would do and make the payment for the work carried out directly to the selected subcontractors.
The move was aimed at empowering local contractors, create jobs for citizens and enhance capacity among the local contractors to contribute to sustainable economic development.
We are, however, saddened to continue hearing reports of some local contractors who have abandoned their works, for various reasons.
For instance, the Government yesterday summoned three local contractors for abandoning their sites in the newly created Chembe District in Luapula Province.
Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Deputy Minister Mutaba Mwali said his Government would terminate the contracts for the three if they failed to provide satisfactory explanations.
Such reports have become commonplace and in most instances such contractors have left the works without paying their employees, let alone without informing them of the way forward.
Definitely, this should be frustrating to the Government and all Zambians wishing to see the citizens’ economic empowerment efforts bearing fruit in this country.
There could be no justifiable reason for the conduct of these contractors and the sooner they realise that their actions are tantamount to sabotaging the chances of other citizens in accessing these economic empowerment facilities, the better.
This is because as much as local contractors could be privileged in terms of enjoying the preferential treatment when being considered for contracts, they still have the responsibility to deliver to the nation’s expectation.
Being Zambian should not warrant a contractor to carry out shoddy works, fail to pay the workers and later abandon the site even after having been paid the full amount for the project in some instances!
Historically, the Government has been pursuing a deliberate policy to empower local contractors but their poor workmanship and lack of reliability have been undermining that well-intended effort.
In future, contractors abandoning the works would have themselves to blame if Government does not consider them for contracts.
Any government wants to get the full value for the taxpayers’ money.
Therefore, underperforming and unreliable contractors should not be tolerated regardless of the nationality of the owners of the firms involved.
The erring contractors should be blacklisted by the relevant wings of Government so that the action could serve as a deterrent to other would-be defaulters.
Not so many years ago, 42 contractors mostly local ones were banned, out of whom 21 were later cleared, while another 21 were subjected to further Government measures.
It is because of the conduct of some of the contractors that the Government has been calling on them not to be selfish but engage in partnerships with foreign companies with equipment and capacity to effectively complete the works.
This will also help such contractors to subsequently build their own capacities and start completing projects on time.
The contractors, therefore, have a duty to prove some stakeholders who feel that Zambian contractors cannot carry out a good job, wrong.
Sometimes some local contractors “fail” even before they start the jobs.
Just by looking at the tools which they are about to start using when carrying out a major roadwork, one can deduce that there will be a disaster!
The Government on its part should ensure that underperforming local contracted are identified and weeded out because they are tarnishing the image of others.
Previously, there was a situation where erring contractors always got more contracts, which was not encouraging to those who would want to do a good job.