construction-SarahOwermohle-flickrThe number of certificates issued to construction companies is set to rise by the end of the year in Zambia.

NCC board chairperson in Zambia Patrick Kampengele said that out of the 3,861 registered companies, 95 per cent were from Zambia and the remaining five per cent were foreign companies.

In addition, Kampengele said that the number of companies registering for construction are expected to exceed 4,000 by the end of 2015.

The NCC is also reworking the construction sector laws to make it more conducive to present day needs. The country’s minister for transport, works and supply Yamfwa Mukanga said that the sector in Zambia had several gaps due to inadequate legal provisions. In addition, the cost of construction materials was also rising, placing the industry at further risk, he added.

Other challenges being faced by the Zambian construction industry include lack of access to raw materials of high quality, scarce and imcomplete building designs and delays in project execution.

However, NCC officials feel that the sector has potential to grow. In order to mitigate setbacks to that growth, the NCC carried out a training session for around 378 individuals on the optimum handling of earth-moving equipment, paving technologies as well as managing construction consultancies, as Kampengele added that additional courses were being taught to students at colleges to hone their skills for the construction sector.

Source : africanreview.com