Zambian companies are unreliable - Tembo

October 5, 2008

A senior government official is concerned at the poor performance of some Zambian companies contracted to undertake various government development projects.

Lusaka Province Deputy Permanent Secretary Conrad Tembo says this is delaying the implementation of development projects such as schools, health centres, roads and other infrastructure aimed at improving the living standards of the people.

Mr Tembo says government has come up with a deliberate policy to empower local contractors but their poor workmanship and lack of reliability is undermining this well intended objective.

Mr Tembo said this when he toured a mortuary under construction at Luangwa Boma clinic in Lungwa district which a named Zambian contractor has failed to complete for the past three years.

This is despite government paying the contractor about K220 million so far out of a total of K280 million to complete the whole the project.

Mr Tembo warned that such contractors would have themselves to blame if government does not consider them for contracts in future.

“Government is doing all it can to accelerate infrastructure development in Lusaka province but in some instances, it is being let down by some local contractors who can’t perform to expectation,” said Mr Tembo.

Mr Tembo urged the Lusaka Provincial Buildings Engineer to work closely with the offices of the District Commissioners and other stakeholders in ensuring contractors worked according to the deadlines and specifications outlined in the contracts.

“Government wants to get the right value for its money. Underperforming and unreliable contractors will therefore not be tolerated,” he said.

Mr Tembo was leading a team of senior officials from Lusaka provincial administration to monitor and evaluate the implementation of various government projects in the province.

The team also visited projects in Chongwe, Kafue and Lusaka districts.