NCC wants 20% govt contracts awarded to locals

NCC Executive Director Mathew Ngulube

The National Council for Construction (NCC) says it wants to ensure that 20 percent minimum  of all government funded road contracts in the country are executed by Zambian citizen owned companies in 2018.

NCC Executive Director Mathew Ngulube says this is in line with the shareholding structure specified in the Citizens Economic Empowerment Act No. 9 of 2006, whose overall goal is to contribute to sustainable economic development.

He notes that foreign contractors have been abrogating the law by not subcontracting local contractors for most of their contracts which he says should not be the case.

He has further told journalists in Lusaka that he wants contracts below the K30 million thresholds are reserved for citizen owned contractors, citizen influenced and citizen empowered companies.

Meanwhile Mr. Ngulube says the council has on several occasions issued reminders in the press to ensure suppliers and manufacturers of construction materials register or renew their certificates.

He says in this regard, all suppliers and manufacturers found wanting will be punished within the provisions of the law.