Over 93,400 jobs created in construction sector

President Michael Sata has disclosed that a total of 93, 487 jobs have been created in the construction sector since 2011.

Mr. Sata has since directed all the ministries, provinces and spending agencies to ensure that 20 percent subcontracting and job creation for local people should be part of the evaluation criteria for awards of all contracts.

He said government will continue to pay particular attention to the further growth of the small and medium businesses in order to promote job creation.

The Head of State said during the official opening of the fourth session of the 11th National Assembly that the construction sector holds enormous potential for job creation and alleviation of poverty for the majority of Zambians.

And the President said the Link-Zambia 8,000 project is progressing well with 22 works contracts signed as of July 2014, covering 2, 245 kilometres.

He said completed roads under the project include Kasama-Luwingu in Northern Province, Sesheke-Senanga in Western Province and Mutanda-Chavuma road in North-Western Province.

Mr. Sata said under the Pave-Zambia 2,000 project, distribution of equipment has been completed in all the 10 provinces.

He said the Lusaka 400 (L400) project, which involves the construction, maintenance, rehabilitation and upgrading of roads around the city, was progressing well.
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The President directed the Ministers of Transport and of Finance to speed up the construction of roads under these projects.

Meanwhile, President Sata said the country’s electricity generation capacity has risen from 1, 669 megawatts in 2011 to 2, 310 megawatts as of 2014.

He attributed the increase among other factors to completed projects such as the 360 megawatts Kariba North Bank hydro power extension project and the 50 megawatt Ndola heavy fuel oil plant.

President Sata said progress was also being made to complete the Itezhi Tezhi hydro power and Mamba thermal power projects, while work is ongoing on the Kafue gorge lower and Lusiwasi hydro power projects.