The Engineering Institution of Zambia (EIZ) says it is working on coming up with standard rates for services that its members can use across the country in line with professional services best practices. The proposals is expected to be presented to government in three months.
EIZ President Abel Ng’andu said a committee is currently working on a proposal aimed at coming up with standards rates that it’s various members and the end users can utilize as a guide. He stated that the proposal will after consultation, be present to the Ministers of Infrastructure, Development and Housing for further consideration within three months.
In an exclusive interview with Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Ng’andu said this is a long overdue process adding that the committee will come up with a draft, which will first be circulated among members. The members will look at the proposals and give feedback, and once the members are satisfied, it will be sent to the relevant ministers for further consideration.
Ng’andu said this will prevent clients from being exploited, adding that that is why the process has to go through the minister because the he represents the public and will be able to look at rates and decide whether the fees are economical, sustainable and fair to the users of the services.
“It is a long process, it’s not something that can be done overnight or in a couple of months, it will take some time. It’s likely that there will be input from other stakeholders as well, not only the ministry, most likely they will invite other stake holders who have a strong interest in those services so that they can share their views, it has to go through a consultative process, he said.”
Ng’andu said coming up with standard rates would mean that the client cannot be exploited and the people who will be doing the work will be doing the work at a pace that will enable them to deliver excellent services.
“You have standard rates for doctors, in the hospital when you go for consultation you pay a particular rate for a doctor, that is the same spirit that we want to follow because if you were going to pay a doctor say K10 as consultation fee, we wouldn’t have too many medical doctors, he said.”
He said the committee would look at the value for money and not whether the rates are too low or too high but will come up with rates that guarantee quality and value for the money the end user will be paying.
The coming up of standard rates for various engineering and related craft services will enable price discovery in the Zambian construction and engineering sector which has been marred by accusation and counter accusations of corruption due to an opaque pricing system.
Standard professional services rates will help to set a guide that would remove the opportunity for corruption or in other incidences, perceived corruption. It will also go a long way to provide a yardstick for review and audit works.
