Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The National Council for Construction (NCC) is optimist that growth in the construction industry will be sustained despite the anticipated gloomy economic outlook in 2016.
Executive Director Charles Mushota says the K9 billion allocated to the construction sector in the 2016 national budget is what gives his council confidence that growth in the sector will be consolidated next year.
Mr. Mushota has told Qfm News that his council is therefore urging local contractors to form cooperatives as a way of boosting their capacities to undertake works for which the K9 billion has been allocated.
He says the NCC is keen to see local contractors have access a larger portion of tenders being awarded in the construction sector because this is the only way the money will remain in the country.
Mr. Mushota has also appealed to government to direct spending agencies not to delay payments to contractors awarded contracts for public works next year.
He has urged spending agencies to do so by being mindful that besides affecting their performance, delayed payments to contractors prolongs completion of projects.