Construction council boss urges transparency in sector

Construction council boss urges transparency in sector
By Fridah Zinyama
Fri 26 Feb. 2010, 08:00 CAT

NATIONAL Council for Construction (NCC) executive director Sylvester Mashamba has said there is need for transparency in the construction industry if corruption is to be curbed.

During a media workshop on the importance of the construction sector transparency initiative (CoST) at NCC offices on Wednesday, Dr Mashamba said making information available to the public on projects which were being undertaken by the government would help to curb corrupt activities which the construction sector was known for.

The CoST is being sponsored by the Department for International Development (DFID) and the World Bank in order to fight corruption and its associated vices in the construction industry.

The aim of CoST is to enhance the accountability of procuring entities and construction companies for the cost and quality of public sector construction projects.

“There is perceived corruption in the construction industry which is costing the country large sums of money and measures need to be put in place to prevent such activities,” he said. “This is why, we are optimistic that the CoST Initiative which government with the help of stakeholders is implementating will help to reduce on such vices.”

Dr Mashamba said there had been public misunderstanding on government-funded projects because most of the times people felt that contractors were doing shoddy work.

“As NCC, we believe that once information is provided on government projects, the amounts and the type of work that should be undertaken, people will be in a better position to appreciate the work that contractors are doing on public works,” he said.

“A typical example that can be given is the Chipata-Lundazi road, government informed the public that the road would be worked on but did not indicate that it would only be mended.”

Dr Mashamba said when the public saw the contractor mending the road they were outraged and chased the contractor because they felt he was doing shoddy work.