Women hail decision to pay contractors
By BUSINESS REPORTER THE Zambia Association of Women in Construction (ZAWIC) has hailed Government’s decision to release K200 million this week to pay arrears of small and medium scale road contractors.
ZAWIC President Mrs. Dorothy Mulwila said women constituted a substantial number of small and medium scale road contractors engaged in road maintenance related activities and timely payments for their works was key in building their contracting capacity.
Mrs. Mulwila also commended President Edgar Lungu for appointing deserving women in influential positions, noting that the decision to prioritise payments to local contractors was as a result of Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe's trade, banking and economic background which was now benefitting her fellow womenfolk.
She encouraged Government to continue empowering women through policies and directives by recognising their efforts through timely payments which would enhance their institutional capacity.
Mrs. Mulwila also commended President Lungu for directing that revenue from road tolls be ploughed back into road maintenance and given that routine maintenance contracts were reserved for locals.
She said the tolls revenue would therefore be circulating within communities for the benefit of several households across the country.
“As ZAWIC we are proud of our Government because the President's pronouncement has shown the faith and confidence in those Zambians engaged in road maintenance and determination to ensure that our road asset is preserved through quality road works."
The ZAWIC president has urged road users to embrace the road tolling programme and assured of her association's commitment to undertake quality road maintenance works.
"Our plea is that our Minister of Finance should continue on this positive trajectory and ensure that all arrears owed to us are cleared on record time so that as local contractors particularly women, we can realise our potential," she said.
Chief Government Spokesperson Hon. Dora Siliya announced last Friday that the Ministry of Finance will this week release K200 million to settle arrears of small and medium scale road contractors.