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Transport, Works Supply & Communications
Further economic growth and private sector invest-
ment is contingent upon the creation of reliable infra-
structure, affordable utilities as well as modern and
efficient communications and transport systems.
OVERVIEW
The provision of infrastructure remains one of gov-
ernment’s top priorities, with a focus on building and
rehabilitating roads, bridges, electricity generation
projects, schools and hospitals, among others. A
significant constraint to growth of the economy has
been the slow pace of the development of large in-
frastructure projects – partly due to constrained pub-
lic finances and limited participation by the private
sector. For this reason, the Public-Private Partner-
ship (PPP) Policy was launched in 2008, along with
a corresponding legal framework to support its im-
plementation in 2009. Since its creation and imple-
mentation, proposals for PPPs in the development
of roads, bridges and energy projects have been
initiated.
PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
The Government has recognized its inadequacies to
source for financial support for infrastructure devel-
opment. It is with this in mind that Government is
seriously considering private sector financing under
the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
Under this framework, the Ministry of Works and
Supply in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance
and National Planning and other key stakeholders
has identified a number of projects.
The projects are in the road sub-sector; upgrading
to dual carriageways and tolling of Ndola – Kitwe
– Chingola – Kasumbalesa, Chingola – Solwezi –
Mwinilunga – Jimbe, Kafulafuta – Luanshya, Kafue
– Livingstone, Lusaka – Kabwe – Ndola, and Lusaka
– Chirundu roads.
Other project opportunities are in the building sub-
sector, which include the construction of 12,000
low and medium cost housing units in Livingstone,
Lusaka, Chipata and Ndola with the use of private
sector financing. This is aimed at providing quality
yet affordable accommodation to those struggling
socio-economically in Zambia.
Another project includes the state-of-the-art banquet
hall and conference facilities at the New Government
Complex are that will facilitate the operations of Gov-
ernment and other stakeholders.
Through the Hostels Management Board, the gov-
ernment seeks to provide quality conference and
lodging facilities to the general public. The “Living-
stone Lodge” was recently commissioned whilst
construction of the “Solwezi Lodge” has reached an
advanced stage. Rehabilitation and maintenance of
other lodges in the country is also on going.
New Lusaka central bus station under construction
CONSTRUCTION
Zambia’s construction industry is regulated by the
National Council for Construction (NCC), which was
established with the key objective of developing lo-
cal construction capacity in the country. The NCC
is responsible for registering, upgrading and down-
grading consultants and contractors, in addition to
monitoring the industry. The construction sector has
a major influence on Zambia’s development, as the
country’s economic activity depends to a large ex-
tent on the state of infrastructure, particularly the
road network. This is especially critical for Zambia as
a landlocked country, where trade linkages with the
Southern African Development Community (SADC)
and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern
Africa (COMESA) regional blocs depend on an ef-
fective regional and internal road network.
Despite a slight drop in 2008 on account of short-
ages in the supply of cement and other materials,
the sector has performed well over the past few
years. Construction activities have been driven pre-
dominantly by commercial and residential building
development in addition to and the development and
construction of new mines.
Although the industry was expected to perform
somewhat below par in 2009 in the wake of the
global financial crisis, construction activities in the
country remained fairly robust, with growth rising to
15.5 percent compared to 8.7 percent in 2008. This
is as a result of increased public and commercial