By JAMES KUNDA –

 PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has challenged the engineering fraternity in Zambia to help local contractors boost their capacity to execute construction projects. The Head of State said he was concerned with the sub-standard work that has been done by some local contractors on most Government projects across the country. “The onus lies with your association to seriously address this situation. “Some measures may be long-term, such as training and re-training of artisans and craftsmen whose numbers are now depleting,” Mr Lungu said. He said this in a speech read on his behalf by acting President Inonge Wina during the commemoration of the golden jubilee of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Zambia (ACEZ) at Hotel Inter-Continental in Lusaka yesterday. President Lungu said the country was going through a critical phase in its development, thus the role played by engineering consultancy could not be over-emphasised. “Critical to this development is a close and harmonised relationship between project promoters led by Government, technical advisers who are the consultants and contractors as project implementers. “It goes without saying that there is need for collaboration among the aforesaid stakeholders at all levels,” the Head of State said. Mr Lungu said it was incumbent upon engineering consultants to provide services that would help the Government realise value for money and optimise the deployment of the available resources. The President was gratified that the local consultancy industry was competent to respond to the country’s infrastructure needs. This scenario, he said, called for combined efforts between the Government and the consultancy industry across all levels of project development. “It is my fervent hope that as we negotiate for various instruments of funding for infrastructure, technical advisers should be part of this process to ensure inclusiveness in the terms and conditions that Government will be signing in the various bilateral and multilateral grants and loans. “This inclusiveness will also ensure that specific needs of our country are clearly articulated and covered in the agreements,” Mr Lungu said. He encouraged the technical advisers to form synergies with their compatriots aboard, and promote a trend where Zambian consultants were awarded contracts as lead firms, bringing in requisite expertise from foreign partners. The President said selection of local consultants considered for these contracts should not merely be a question of satisfying the local market, but based on meticulous decisions. He added that the Government would streamline upstream procedures such as procurement and feasibility assessments to propel project implementation across the country. At the same occasion, International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) president Jae-Wan Lee encouraged the consultants to discharge their services with utmost care and diligence. Mr Lee said in a speech read for him by FIDIC vice-president Exaud Mushi that this would ensure smooth implementation of the construction projects.