Chinese firm commended for engaging local contractors in road works

Source: Xinhua | 2019-12-13

A civic leader in Zambia's Chongwe district in Lusaka Province on Wednesday lauded a Chinese firm for awarding 20 percent of road works to local contractors.

Evans M'hambi, Deputy Mayor of the district, commended China's AVIC international Engineering Ltd for awarding 20 percent of the road works to local contractors.

He observed that the Chinese firm has adhered to the Zambian government's requirement for foreign firms to award 20 percent of work to local contractors.

According to him, the Chinese firm had exhibited good workmanship and delivered quality road works.

He expressed hope that the local contractors, who were currently doing the drainage works on the completed 64 kilometers of road works, would emulate the Chinese contactor by delivering quality works.

M'hambi advised the local contractors to put in their best so as to win the confidence of government and the main contractor.

"This is just the beginning of many good things to come for our local contractors and as such we expect them to show seriousness and deliver quality works that will stand the test of time," M'hambi said.

The deputy mayor observed that the awarding of contracts to the local people will go a long way in creating a platform for learning and growth of their businesses and that it had created employment for the local people, especially the youths in the district.

He urged AVIC International to continue partnering with local contractors so as to help transfer skills to the local people, adding that the Chinese firm had shown that it was committed to respecting and honoring the requirements of the Zambian government.

M'hambi also thanked the Chinese firm for its social responsibility program which has resulted in the firm sinking three boreholes in two villages in the district.

He said this was a sign of a good relationship between the people of Zambia and China.