Mwense Contractors Complain

Michael Kaumba-Local contractors in MWENSE District have complained of being sidelined from government construction projects in the area.

MWENSE District Contractors Association Secretary DUNCAN MUSHOTA says this is despite local contractors having capacity to undertake such projects.

Mr MUSHOTA has since appealed to government to probe why outside contractors are being preferred at the expense of the local ones.

And Association Chairman SHEM MALAMA says members have been reduced to mere spectators in the construction projects taking place in the district.

Mr MALAMA says the association fears that it may also be sidelined from taking part in Constituency Development Fund-CDF- projects which government says should be given to local people.

The duo was speaking when the members of the association presented their grievances to Water Development and Sanitation Minister MIKE MPOSHA when he inspected the construction site of the MWENSE water treatment plant.

And Mr MPOSHA has pledged to review how some contracts under his ministry were being given in the past and those which were not duly awarded will be readvertised.

The Minister reminded contracting agencies that the new dawn government will not take kindly to any government agency flouting the 20 percent sub contracting law meant to empower local contractors.

Mr MPOSHA also said he will be on the watch to see how contracts for water projects under the Constituency Development Fund-CDF- will be awarded.

Meanwhile, MWENSE District Commissioner HAPPYSTONE MWAPE told the Minister that he is aware of the complaints and he has asked for an updated list of all contractors in the district who will be considered for upcoming projects.

And LUAPULA Water Supply and Sanitation Company Managing Director KENNETH CHENSE was at pains to explain why the local contractors were left out of the bidding process for some sub contracting works at the project.

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