State House fumes

STATE House yesterday reprimanded two foreign contractors, Afcons and Ashtron for non-compliance of the 20 percent sub-contraction policy to local contractors.

And Special Assistant to the President for Project Implementation and Monitoring Andrew Chellah has directed an Indian contractor, Afcons to engage the local contractors by Monday next week without fail.

Afcons Infrastructure Limited, an Indian construction company was awarded the $289 million Lusaka decongetion project which include road expansion and construction of fly over bridges in the capital city.

An Israeli construction company, Ashtrom is carrying out rehabilitation and construction of Maina Soko Military Hospital at a cost of $140 million.

Mr Chellah who made an impromptu tour yesterday at the construction sites in Lusaka was incensed to note that the two firms had not yet engaged local contractors despite works having commenced with some reasonable process made in terms of percentage to completion.

The Lusaka decongetion project which started in June, 2018 and is earmarked for completion in December, 2021 is required to engage about 39 local contractors in line with the sub-construction policy.

However, ever since the works commenced which is standing at about 15 percent completion, none of the locals have been sub-contracted, a move that rilled Mr Chellah.

Mr Chellah, who was visibly unhappy told Afcons to engage local contractors quickly saying Government would no longer buy into their delaying tactics in adhering to the sub-construction policy.