PPP Reforms to Strengthen Oversight and Deliver Durable Road Infrastructure in Zambia
The Government of the Republic of Zambia has acknowledged public concerns regarding the performance of selected road infrastructure projects implemented under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening oversight, accountability, and delivery standards.
In a comprehensive statement, Minister of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Musokotwane, said Government had taken note of concerns raised by stakeholders, including the Engineering Institution of Zambia, particularly on issues of durability, safety, accountability, and value for money.
He described the public engagement as both legitimate and constructive, emphasising that infrastructure development must meet national expectations.
“Roads are not merely physical assets, but part of the country’s productive foundation, linking farms to markets, workers to opportunities, and communities to essential services,” Dr Musokotwane said, adding that public scrutiny should be viewed as an essential feature of democratic accountability rather than a challenge to be managed.
The Minister clarified that while concerns have been raised about specific projects, these should not be interpreted as a failure of the PPP model itself. Instead, he pointed to implementation gaps, including the need for stronger independent supervision, stricter enforcement, and clearer accountability mechanisms across the full lifecycle of PPP projects.
He reiterated that PPPs remain a critical instrument for mobilising private capital, accelerating infrastructure delivery, and sharing risk in a manner that protects public interest. Zambia’s PPP framework, governed by the Public-Private Partnership Act, already provides for structured oversight through the PPP Council, value-for-money assessments, project implementation teams, and contract management systems.
However, Dr Musokotwane acknowledged that legal provisions alone are insufficient to meet public expectations for visible and independent technical assurance. In response, Government is advancing reforms aimed at strengthening the PPP framework, including making independent technical oversight a mandatory requirement across projects, particularly where concessionaires are involved.
“These reforms will ensure that no project proceeds without credible and independent supervision arrangements that protect quality, timelines, and long-term public value,” he said.
Government also reaffirmed that value for money remains central to all PPP transactions, with infrastructure financed through private participation required to meet standards of affordability, quality, timeliness, and appropriate risk transfer.
Dr Musokotwane highlighted that under PPP arrangements, defect risks and lifecycle maintenance obligations are borne by private concessionaires throughout the concession period. This means that the cost of rectifying defects and maintaining infrastructure does not fall on Government, offering a stronger fiscal safeguard compared to traditional public-financed Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) models.
In addition, PPP projects provide revenue opportunities for the State through agreed revenue-sharing mechanisms and tax receipts, enabling the Treasury to benefit from the economic returns of infrastructure investments while reducing immediate fiscal pressures.
The Minister further noted that ongoing reforms will go beyond technical improvements to include enhanced transparency, improved disclosure of project structures, and clearer lines of accountability from design through to execution and maintenance. Government also aims to improve public understanding of how PPP projects are financed and managed.
Dr Musokotwane reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to maintaining PPP frameworks that attract investment, accelerate infrastructure development, and safeguard national interests.
He stressed that concerns raised by stakeholders will inform concrete reforms to strengthen governance and ensure that all infrastructure projects deliver durable, high-quality outcomes.
Dr Musokotwane added that PPPs play a strategic role in Zambia’s broader economic reforms, particularly in the context of fiscal consolidation and debt restructuring under the G20 Common Framework, where agreements now cover over 94 per cent of claims. By mobilising private capital, PPPs help reduce reliance on public borrowing and preserve fiscal space for sectors where private financing is less feasible.
“The objective is to ensure that all resources mobilised whether through public funds or private investment translate into resilient, all-weather infrastructure that stands the test of time,” he said.
The Minister added that the reforms will enhance public confidence by ensuring clear accountability, stronger supervision, and improved transparency in infrastructure delivery.
