INFRASTRUCTURE KEY TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

By Kalobwe Bwalya

THE Ministry of Infrastructure and Rural Urban says the Government committed to ensuring essential public infrastructure and affordable housing units across the country to accelerate social and economic development.

Permanent Secretary Lee Muzala said there was a need for stakeholder support towards a robust construction industry in Zambia by showing their commitment and dedication towards realising a sustainable and competitive construction sector.

In an interview, Mr. Muzala noted that the appetite to deliver quality works by indigenous Zambians was high and that this entailed a path towards a brighter future for the local construction industry.

He explained that such efforts will ultimately support the goal of the ministry to have essential public infrastructure and affordable housing units across the country and that the opening of the national training centre was a milestone especially on the journey towards advancing the construction industry in Zambia.

He observed that this would reaffirm commitment to enhancing the mandate of the National Council for Construction (NCC) and driving progress across the construction sector.

“To realise this vision of the critical importance of equipping the workforce with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the modern construction landscape, this initiative fits into the purpose of my ministry,” Mr. Muzala said.

He revealed that NCC needed to partner with other stakeholders to produce excellent work and ensure that it was supported fully to foster innovation and excellence across the sector.

However, he called on other stakeholders to embrace technology as well as to undergo training in various software programs for the development of the industry.

“There is a need to support this infrastructure development in Zambia especially for essential public infrastructure in order to accelerate social economic development. It is crucial to acknowledge technology gaps in the industry such as outdated tools that keep hindering the progress which impacts efficiency occupancy and timely deliverance of the projects in the country,” he said.