Most contractors in Eastern Province do not know how to properly cost projects when bidding for contracts.
Speaking during Budget Tracking Programme on Breeze FM this morning, Provincial Buildings Engineer Wilson Chifwima revealed that most contractors under-price projects.
Mr. Chifwima says that this has resulted in projects being delayed to be completed as contractors are faced with serious challenges where to get extra money to finish the works.
He advised contractors in Eastern Province to properly cost the projects so that they can compete favourably when bidding for the government projects.
And Mr. Chifwima says that government has changed the system of funding building infrastructure projects.
He says that instead of funding appearing under two budget lines for Provincial Administration and Buildings Department, all funding for building infrastructure projects now falls under the Buildings Department.
Mr. Chifwima says that this change has seen the Buildings Department receiving more funding under the 2015 National Budget.
He explained that while the department was last year allocated 3.8 million Kwacha, the allocation jumped to 9.1 million Kwacha under the 2015 national budget.
Meanwhile construction works for Paramount Chief Kalonga Gawa Undi’s palace at Mkaika in Katete district have not started.
Provincial Buildings Engineer Wilson Chifwima disclosed that this is despite the money for the project being available.
Speaking during Budget Tracking Programme, on Breeze FM this morning, Mr. Chifwima could not disclose what challenges the project has faced not to start.
He however, indicated that construction works for Paramount Chief Mpezeni and Chieftainess Nyanje’s palaces are progressing well.
Meanwhile Mr. Chifwima says that government does not have institutional houses apart from those in schools and those being occupied by the permanent secretary, deputy permanent secretary and district commissioners, since all of them were sold.
He also disclosed that the Buildings Department has repossessed three institutional houses where sitting tenants in Chadiza, Chipata and Nyimba districts, failed to buy them.