KELLY NJOMBO, Lusaka
THE National Council for Construction (NCC) in partnership with the Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research (ZIPAR) is this year conducting a survey to help strengthen regulations and policy implementation in the construction industry.
Las t year, NCC s igned a memorandum of understanding with ZIPAR to assist the council strengthen its mandate to regulate and develop the construction industry.
Speaking in Lusaka on Wednesday during the dissemination of preliminary findings of research in the construction industry, NCC executive director Charles Mushota said the survey will also help evaluate the performance and growth of Zambia’s construction industry.
“The survey seeks to obtain information that the policy-makers, analysts, investors, contractors, Government, regulators, among others, need for the development of the industry,” Mr Mushota said.
He said the survey has already started and will be based on a sample of 453 contractors in Copperbelt and Lusaka provinces as records indicate that over 80 percent of registered contractors are found in the two provinces.
Mr Mushota said the survey also seeks to establish how companies are progressing from one grade to another in terms of the NCC grading scheme, challenges in growth, financial position, value of works done and how much the sector is contributing to Zambia’s gross domestic product.
At the same event, ZIPAR acting executive director Shebo Nalishebo said Zambia’s construction industry has a huge potential to grow, but there is need to improve research and data collection.