Zambia
Zambia Construction Industry
Zambia's GDP is around $11 billion and construction industry activity contributes around 7.5% of that in real terms. The main body tasked with developing the sector is the National Council for Construction (see www.ncc.org.zm) with the key objective of developing the local construction capacity in the country and seeks, among its other aims and objectives, to achieve the following:
- Unifying the Construction Industry
- Promoting the well being of the Construction Industry
- Striving to create a profitable environment for constituents of the Construction Industry
- Establishing a united national platform encompassing formal and informal sectors of the Construction Industry and its professions.
CoST Zambia
The purpose of CoST Zambia is to improve accountability and reduce corruption through increased transparency of construction contracts. Zambia has been at the forefront in establishing CoST in the country demonstrating its profound commitment to good governance and best practice in its construction industry. The Minister for Works and Supply, Hon. K Simabao MP, at the CoST international consultation meeting in London on 20th June demonstrated this by proposing that the country becomes a pilot for implementing CoST. This process has now started and CoST's first national Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) was formed in Lusaka on 5th October 2007. The structure of CoST Zambia is shown in the following diagram:
The Champion for CoST in Zambia is the Minister for Works & Supply. The Champion's role is to:
- Promote CoST at the highest level in Government
- Gain agreement from other Ministries for their participation in CoST
- When considered necessary, represent CoST Zambia at international forums
- Appoint members of the MSG considering the proceedings of the Annual Stakeholders Convention
- Oversee the activities of the CoST Secretariat to ensure the effective implementation of CoST.
An Annual Stakeholders Convention will be an open conference of all stakeholders in the country and reviews the annual report of MSG. This MSG will have the following objectives:
- Approve Country Work Plan on a rolling annual basis
- Agree the projects or groups of projects that should be included in the pilot phase
- Approve the project information template
- Approve the TOR for the Assurance Team
- Review and approve tender evaluation recommendations for consultants procured under CoST programme
- Advise National Council for Construction on the administration of the contract for Assurance Team
- Direct the Assurance Team
- Publish the findings of the Assurance Team in a comprehensible form
- Consider recommendations by Assurance Team on whether specific contracts or procuring entities should be referred to the Press, National Audit Office or Anti-Corruption Commission
- Meet monthly until Assurance Team in place. After that meet on a quarterly basis
- Report on an annual basis to the CoST Annual Stakeholders Convention
- Advise the CoST "Champion", the Minister for Works and Supply upon request
- Liaise with CoST International Forum
- Monitor content of CoST website
The membership of the MSG currently includes:
- Mr. Rueben Lifuka - Transparency International Zambia / Chairperson
- Mr. Boster Chiyaba - Ministry of Works and Supply
- Mr. Henry Zulu - Office of the Auditor General
- Mr. Chimuka Nyanga - Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors
- Mr. Watson Ngandu - Zambia Institute of Architects
- Mrs. Glenda Mungalaba - Anti-Corruption Commission
- Mr. Henry Musonda, Zambia - Association of Consulting Engineers
- Mr. Thomas Lwenje - Zambia National Tender Board
- Mr. Saili Kanchela - Zambia Bureau of Standards
- Dr. Sylvester Mashamba - National Council for Construction
- Mr. Lupando Kalaluka - Law Association of Zambia
- Ms.Wendy Nambule - National Council for Construction / Secretary
The main objectives of the Assurance Team will be to:
- Assess the adequacy and reliability of project information disclosures and other transparency indicators
- Identify causes for concern in such disclosures
- Reporting findings to the MSG.
The MSG and Assurance Team will be supported by a Secretariat (the NCC) that will:
- Carry out the necessary preparations for the establishment of the CoST Pilot in Zambia
- Support the Minister of Works & Supply in regard to role as CoST Champion
- Assist the MSG in its activities
- Administer the contract of the Assurance Team and any other associated contracts
CoST Zambia Workshop: Lusaka, 29th August 2007
Left to Right: Ms. Wendy Nambule, Publicity Officer, National Council for Construction; Mr. Adam Andreski, Consultant, DFID; Dr. Francis Ndilila, Board Chairman, National Council for Construction; Hon. Kapembwa Simbao, Minister for Works and Supply; Mr. R. Lifuka, President of Transparency International Zambia
The National Council for Construction
The National Council for Construction (NCC) is a statutory corporate body set up by an Act of parliament to regulate and build capacity for the local Zambian construction industry. The NCC is governed by NCC Act No. 13 of 2003, which sets out the role, mandate and functions of the NCC. The NCC affiliates and represents all trade organisations and professional bodies within the Zambian Construction Industry.
If you would like to read the whole brief regarding the NCC please download the NCC Brief pdf.
Additional Information:
The following report provides an overview of the IAG Chairman's observations on CoST following his recent visit to Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia.
Download: IAG Chairman's visit report - January 2009.pdf (62.1KB)
You can download Zambia's Summary workplan here:Zambia Summary Work Plan.pdf
