Engineering Institution Of Zambia (Eiz) Launches The Infrastructure Report Card System.

The Engineering Institution Of Zambia (Eiz) Has Launched The Infrastructure Report Card System (Ircs) To Help The Institution Assess The State And Condition Of The Country’s Infrastructure.

The Infrastructure Report Card Is The First Of Its Kind In Zambia And Shall Grade The State Of The Built Infrastructure In Selected Sectors.

The Report Which Will Provide A Comprehensive Analysis And Report To Date On Zambia’s Infrastructure Will Focus On Infrastructures Which Are Economic Sectors Such As Agriculture, Roads And Bridges, Water, Sanitation And Solid Waste.

It Shall Also Focus On Electricity, Fuel, Education And Health, Information And Communication Technology, Airports, Railways And Water Transport Infrastructure.

The Infrastructure Report Card System Will Provide Useful Information That Policy Makers Need To Take In Order To Make Well Informed Decisions That Are Anchored On Sound Technical Analysis.

Speaking Earlier During The Launched Of The Report, Engineering Institution Of Zambia President Bernard Chiwala Noted That Infrastructure Is The Capital Stock And The Real Catalyst That Propels Provision Of Public Goods And Services In An Economy.

Mr. Chiwala Says The Absence Of A Robust Infrastructure Hampers The Much Needed Efficient And Effective Economic Activities To Enhance Growth And National Development And Increases The Cost Of Doing Business In A Country.

He Says Such A Scenario Impelled The Institute To Propose A Way Of Arresting The Situation Through The Development Of An Infrastructure Report Card System Which Will Also Help In Lobbying Government For Funding.

Mr. Chiwala Further Disclosed That Government Through The Ministry Of Transport, Communication, Works And Supply Has Made Available About 5billion Kwacha Under The National Budget For The Construction Of The Headquarters For Eiz.

And Officially Launching The Eiz Infrastructure Report Card System Transport, Communication, Works And Supply Minister Christopher Yaluma Challenged The Institution To Ensure That The Report Card Be Used As A Tool For Helping Government And Other Stakeholders To Realize The Opportunity It Presents Of Highlighting The Areas Of Priority.

Mr. Yaluma Says Timely Repair Of Worn And Damaged Infrastructure Saves Money In The Long Run And A Repair Postponed Could Cost Three Or Four Times As Much Repair A Year Later Hence The Report Card Is Timely.

He Further Says It Is Governments’ Expectation That The Eiz Will Foster The Mechanism For Harnessing The Energy And Talent Of The General Eiz Membership That Will Support The Design, As Well As Effective And Efficient Implementation Of Government Policies And Programmes.

Mr. Yaluma Also Says Government Expects The Report Card To Be In Place And Revised Periodically Which He Said Will See Effort Channeled Towards Priority Areas In Infrastructure Sector That Need Attention.