Examining the Effectiveness of Cost Management in Road Construction Projects: A Case Study of Constituency Development Fund Implementation in Chawama Constituency, Lusaka, Zambia

Effective cost management is a critical determinant of success in project implementation, especially in large-scale infrastructure projects such as road construction, which typically involve significant financial investment, complex logistics, and multiple stakeholders. The ability to plan, estimate, allocate, and control project costs effectively determines whether a project is delivered within its approved budget and timeline. In developing countries like Zambia, Cost Management presents a persistent challenge due to a combination of factors such as limited financial resources, inadequate planning, poor procurement practices, inflation, and weak regulatory oversight. These challenges often result in cost overruns, extended project durations, and compromises in the quality of work delivered. Road construction projects are particularly vulnerable to Cost Management issues due to their scale and susceptibility to unforeseen variables such as weather conditions, land disputes, and fluctuating material and labor costs. Inadequate cost forecasting and ineffective monitoring mechanisms further exacerbate the risk of misallocating funds or incurring unplanned expenditures. This study focused on examining the effectiveness of Cost Management practices in the implementation of road construction projects, using the Chawama Constituency in Lusaka as a case study. The study embraced a cross-sectional survey study design, employing a quantitative methodology for gathering primary data. STATA was used for data entry and data analysis. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, and means, was used to summarize data. The study found that budgeting and cost control are the most widely applied with MS Excel dominating as the cost management tool. Major challenges include delayed disbursements, price inflation, design changes, inadequate reporting, weak oversight, and political interference, limited digital tools, and weak institutional accountability, which collectively hinder effective Cost Management. The study finds that CDF-funded road projects in Chawama rely heavily on traditional cost management methods and manual tools, resulting in moderate budget adherence but limited precision and real-time monitoring. Recommendations focus on adopting digital tools, building staff capacity, strengthening institutional oversight, improving procurement, and establishing centralized cost data systems to enhance efficiency, transparency, and proactive financial control.