Conference to tackle Zambia's infrastructure challenges opens

A two-day conference aimed at tackling Zambia's infrastructure and housing challenges opened here on Thursday with President Edgar Lungu expressing concern over the casual approach to infrastructure works and engineering in the country.

The 2017 Housing and Infrastructure Symposium, which has attracted about 400 stakeholders from the construction and finance sectors, has been organized to find solutions to the challenges facing the sector.

The conference is being held under the theme "Towards a Smart and Resilient Infrastructure."

Lungu said at the official opening of the conference that the construction of some infrastructure should not be allowed to continue because of poor workmanship.

The Zambian leader said it was unfortunate that the country has taken a casual approach to the kind of infrastructure being put up, a move that was making the country lose colossal sums of money because of the poor structures.

He challenged technocrats to find creative and innovative strategies and embrace technologies that will enable the country to put in place infrastructure that will withstand effects of climate change.

Zambia has witnessed a number of infrastructures such as bridges and roads being washed away due to the heavy rains experienced especially during the current rain season.

Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development Ronald Chitotela said the conference will showcase government's resolve to upgrade infrastructure in the country.

While acknowledging the steps taken in improving road construction, the Zambian minister said the move should also be undertaken in the development of housing infrastructure where the country was facing a deficit. Endit