Global outbreak of COVID 19 worries National Council for Construction Executive Director Mathew Ngulube

NCC Executive Secretary Mathew Ngulube

NCC Board Chairperson Rosetta Chabala

By Luswepo Mutepuka – Kwilanzi News Zambia Photo-Journalist

THE National Council for Construction says the global outbreak of the novel Coronavirus ( covid 19) pandemic has negatively affected the construction sector in the Zambia.

NCC Executive Director Mathew Ngulube says it is difficult to get accurate vulnerability statistics as a lot of people on construction sites owing to the Practice Social Distancing (PSD) measures put in place by President Edgar Lungu.

Mr. Ngulube has noted that construction sites with over 300 people are difficult to monitor on account of the geographical landscape and partial Lockdown measures imposed by the Zambian Government, meant to protect society.

Mr. Ngulube has told Kwilanzi News Zambia in an interview in Lusaka that it will be difficult to finish the construction projects on time.

NCC Board Member Danny Mfune

NCC Board Member Zhang Jian

NCC Vice Board Chairperson Isaac Banda

The National Council for Construction Executive Director pointed out that as a consequence of Covid 19, the performance of the local currency – The Kwacha had been adversely affected evident in its devaluation as it traded K18 when converted into one US Dollar.

As feared by economists and financial analysts, Mr. Ngulube worried that the noted devaluation and free fall of the local currency will in result in increased cost of goods

The National Council for Construction Executive Director appealed to contractors to be optimistically consider and give the Zambian governments enough time to resolve socio-economic challenges which have worsened the country’s unemployment, income inequality and poverty levels.

The Board

The National Council for Construction Act No 13 of 2003 Under Section 3 and 4 provides for the establishment of the Council and the composition of the Council.

The following is the Board of the NCC.

Mrs Roseta M. Chabala Board Chairperson	Hon Isaac Banda Vice Chairperson	Eng Danny Mfune Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development
Mr. Josiah Simachela Ministry of Justice	Arch Mphangela Nkonge Zambia Institute of Architects	Mr. Amos Malupanga Ministry of Local Govt and Housing
Mr. Michael Chileshe Surveyors Institute of Zambia	Mrs Margaret Lwenje Lungu Zambia Bureau of Standards	Mr. Musonda Chikwanda Ministry of Finance and National Planning
Mr. Edward Mpepo National Association of Medium & Small Scale Contractors	Mrs Catherine M. Kanyesha Technical Education, Vocational & Entrepreneurship Training Authority	Mr Allen Polito Energy Regulation Board
Dr Michael Mulenga University of Zambia	Mr Zhang Jian Association of Building & Civil Engineering Contractors	Q.S. Mathew Ngulube Executive Director National Council for Construction