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{
    "id": 78566,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/78566/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 292,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Member for Mathira was concerned about unemployment, which we are all concerned about. But he went further to say that local citizens are not being given opportunity in business in the country. He went on to say that jobs like consultancies and construction are not given to locals. The Government has got a policy which enables it to give preferential treatment to local contractors. We have even in the procurement rules allowed up to 15 to 20 per cent for locals. If they are hired, they are allowed to be awarded those contracts. A lot of efforts have been made to try to ensure that our people can compete effectively. In some areas, affirmative action has been exercised. I know, for example, that in the field of road and building construction and water, right now, there are quite a number of local consultants and construction companies that are engaged. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we must also know that we have a country to develop and that our people, once given opportunity, must perform. If they do not perform, I do not think that the Government will be justified in giving them more jobs. We must also have some cultural change in our attitude, so that when a contractor is paid money, he should invest it back into the work that he or she is doing and not divert the funds to go and marry more wives! Mr. Speaker, Sir, the hon. Member himself is a member of the business community and knows exactly what I am talking about. He knows that there are cases where contractors have let the Government down badly. As we give our local people opportunity to engage in the field of construction, they must deliver. If they do not deliver, we will not be justified in spending public funds on them."
}