Zambia Unveils Contractors Estimator Express to Save Billions in Construction Losses
The Ministry of Technology and Science has unveiled the Contractors Estimator Express, a groundbreaking mobile application designed to address persistent challenges in Zambia’s construction industry.
Speaking at the launch, Assistant Director Mr Kumbuzo Nkunika, representing Permanent Secretary Eng Dr Brilliant Habeenzu, hailed the innovation developed by LT Construction Software as a transformative step towards efficiency and transparency.
For years, the government has expressed concern over overpricing by contractors, poor estimations by technical staff, and under-pricing of tenders by local firms. These challenges have led to abandoned projects and significant financial losses, with Auditor General’s reports estimating annual losses of more than ZMW 2 billion between 2015 and 2023.
The Contractors Estimator Express directly tackles these issues by enabling contractors to generate accurate rate build-ups and price Bills of Quantities (BOQs) directly from their mobile devices. The application allows engineers, architects, and quantity surveyors to prepare reliable budgets at the design stage, cutting estimation errors by up to 25% and reducing estimation time by up to 40%.
Aligned with the 8th National Development Plan, the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (2025), and the Digital Transformation Agenda, the tool is expected to support greater accountability in public procurement while boosting local contractors’ competitiveness.
The innovation has already attracted regional attention, with interest from Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia, highlighting its potential to influence construction practices across Africa.
“As government, we believe local innovation is the cornerstone of industrial transformation,” Mr Nkunika said. “With Zambia’s digital economy growing at nearly 10% annually and more than 14 million mobile connections in use, the future for mobile-based solutions such as the Contractors Estimator Express is bright.”
Officials expressed optimism that the application will improve transparency, strengthen procurement processes, and ultimately drive national development by reducing costs and inefficiencies in the sector.
