EXPENSIVE PROJECTS FACE AUDIT

… to ensure costs tally with work done.

ALL government projects will be audited to ensure that the cost tally with the work done, the Daily Nation can reveal.

Supervisors under the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing have been directed to review the costs of projects under construction and ensure that works done tally with the costs.

This follows revelations that some contractors were deliberately omitting components in projects currently being undertaken while inflating costs.

Infrastructure and Housing Permanent Secretary, Charles Mushota has summoned the directors for a meeting today which would look at how the Ministry could upscale the supervision of all the projects in the country.

In an interview with the Daily Nation, Mr Mushota said Government would also arrange for a meeting with the Engineering Institute of

Zambia (EIZ) and the Association of Consulting Engineers, to discuss the concerns that some contractors were deliberately omitting components in projects currently being undertaken while inflating costs.

President Lungu earlier this year wondered why the Kafue Bulk Water Project was not provided with a pump house, while KK International Airport has missing components despite the costs being high.

He said the ministry had taken the concerns raised by the President very seriously and that in the course of next week they would be meeting with EIZ and ACE to help address the issues.

“I have instructed my Director for public Infrastructure to look into the matter and we will be having meetings tomorrow (today). We take every concern very seriously,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said the payment made to the contractors were based on the work which were done.

He said Government quantity surveys and engineers go on site and measure the work which had been done.

Mr Mushota said the only amount that Government pays was mobilisation and advance before the work commenced

He said the subsequent payments were made on the work done so that there was no situation where the contractor was over paid.

Meanwhile, he said government was looking acquiring technologies that would help in reducing the cost of building low cost houses.