By Isaac Salima:
Minister of Transport and Public Works Jacob Hara has lamented gaps in the public procurement system which he said contribute to shoddy work in the construction industry.
Speaking in a Times Radio’s Kulinji Programme, Hara faulted the country’s procurement system which he said always goes for the lowest bidder.
His comment comes amid reports that the newly constructed Nsanje – Marka Road which is yet to be commissioned has developed potholes.
He further said lowest bidding contractors can sometimes realise late that they offered unrealistic prices and offer compromised service.
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“We are trying to change the procurement laws to come up with a special unit to handle construction matters. This is because once we mess up with procurement, do not expect quality work,” Hara said.
Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority PPDA Director General Eddingtone Chilapondwa blamed it on poor workmanship.
“The government is paying millions to consultants to conduct supervision. How does a contract come up with substandard works in the face of a consultant who is supervising the works?” Chilapondwa queried.
Governance expert George Phiri urged the government to address the gaps in procurement laws.
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Corruption during bidding and tendering processes, lack of capacity among some contractors and consultants and a quest for cheap labour are cited as some of the factors contributing to poor workmanship in the industry.
For years, there have been concerns over continued loss of billions of Kwacha each year due to substandard infrastructure projects, a situation experts have decried.
