Chinese advised on contracts

THERE are repeated calls on Chinese investors in the mining sector to award contracts to Zambian contractors and suppliers.

This would promote employment creation among Zambians especially young people who are the majority in the joblessness bracket.

The concerns come in the wake of continued awarding of contracts to fellow Chinese by some Chinese mining firms.

Rabbax Mining Company Managing Director Sunday Kaluba said Chinese mining companies like Non-Ferrous Mining Company of Africa (NFCA) and others were in the habit of awarding contracts to fellow Chinese companies leaving out Zambian owned firms.

Mr Kaluba has urged the Chinese mining investors to emulate Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) by giving contracts to local contractors and suppliers so that they can create jobs for Zambians.

Mr Kaluba, whose company deals in mechanical and electrical engineering, said it was sad that Chinese mining companies were always sidelining local firms in preference for fellow Chinese companies.

"At least, MCM is trying its best to give contracts to local contractors, but some Chinese mining companies are subcontracting small Chinese companies which they are giving jobs, instead of giving those jobs to local Zambians.

"It is imperative for Chinese investors to reverse the trend.

‘At least, things can be much better, unlike the current situation where every contractor is scrambling for jobs at MCM," Mr Kaluba said.

Mr Kaluba, who is also Patriotic Front (PF) Buntungwa ward Youth Secretary, said foreign contractors should sub-contract 20 per cent of their total contract sum to the local contractors as a way of transferring skills, empowerment and retention of money into the Zambian economy. He said the implementation of the government's policy of foreign contractors giving local contractors 20 per cent of their total contract sum would help build capacity among local contractors and empower the local people who would be employed by contractors.

"Apart from empowering local people who would be employed by local contractors, the money which would be made by these local contractors would remain in circulation, unlike foreign contractors who would take the money out of Zambia.

He however prodded local contractors should ensure that they gain and hold the confidence of the members of the public by putting up quality works and completing projects on time.