An Assessment of factors influencing the Abandonment of Public-Sector Construction Projects: A Case of Lusaka District in Zambia
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Date
2024
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University of Lusaka
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess factors influencing abandonment of public sector construction in Lusaka district. Specifically, the study sought to: establish the extent economic factors may account for abandonment of public sector construction projects in Lusaka district; investigate the extent financial factors may account for abandonment of public sector construction projects in Lusaka district; assess the extent political factors may account for abandonment of public sector construction projects in Lusaka district; and ascertain the extent human resource factors may account for abandonment of public sector construction projects in Lusaka district. The study employed a quantitative research design. The research involved a total sample of 333 respondents from National Construction Council (NCC), Zambia Institute of Architects (ZIA), officials from Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing, Ministry of Works and Supply and Ministry of Finance and Lusaka City Council (LCC). A random sampling method was used to sample the respondents. Data was collected using a questionnaire. The data gathered was quantitatively analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. The research found that 71.8% of abandoned public sector construction projects in Lusaka district are attributed to economic, financial, political, and human resource
factors while the remaining 28.2% can be explained by factors not covered in this research. the four independent variables are all significantly and positively related to the dependent variable at the .01 level of significance. Human Resource factor has the most influence on the dependent variable ( beta = .319) followed by Economic factor (beta = .163), Financial factor came third (beta=0.155) while Political factor had the least influence on the dependent variable (beta=0.117). Based on the research findings, the research recommends that: government through the office of the Attorney General ought to be signing construction projects upon confirming availability of adequate funds for the construction projects; Institutions like NCC, EIZ and ZIA need to promote prudent financial management and inculcate good culture among their members to avoid project mismanagement and poor performance; and government through the Ministry of Finance should be releasing funds for construction projects right on time.
Key words: Public sector, project construction