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

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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.

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

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