LOCAL CONTRACTORS DEMAND BETTER DEAL

A TASKFORCE of local contractors has been formed to push for refining of the 20 per cent sub-contracting policy.

Local contractors on the Copperbelt led by Jotech Director John Chilupula demanded that local contractors should be given bigger volumes of work so that they build capacity.

Members of the Taskforce said they should also be given advance payment as they embark on any project to guarantee sustainability.

Mr Chilupula said the local contractors could be negotiating with the line ministry, the main contractor and the supervising agency.

“The way it is now, we are not benefitting anything from this 20 per cent. This is why we want it to be delinked from the main contract at source so that we can negotiate on our own with the line ministry, the main contractor himself and the supervising agency,’’ Mr Chilupula said.

Mr Chilupula said the local contractors also wanted bigger volumes of work so that they build their capacity.

He said it was through carrying out big projects that local contractors would build their capacity, create employment and contribute to economic development.

“If these foreign contractors are only sub-contracting local contractors to clear the bush or slash the grass, what capacity are