Construction and Mining Magazine

Construction & Mining Magazine - October - December - 2015

Construction & Mining Magazine - October - December - 2015 - 3

Editor’s Note

CONTENTS

As the year is drawing to a close, a feeling of gratitude is undeniably running through everyone. The festivities will certainly present a new breath of life. Many are in this quarter taking time to take stock of their achievements this year, rejoicing over the accomplishments while excitedly map-ping next year’s resolutions. Our team is also excitedly expecting two babies in the New Year and this makes the conclusion of this quarter and year all the more enthused.

It is at such a time that we also take stock of the industry happenings and some of the issues we believe warrant some extra touch of care in the coming months. So much has happened in this quarter with regards to our construction and mining industries in Zimbabwe and Africa as a whole. Presi-dent Mugabe’s declaration in support of in-frastructural development during the UN-ESCO Engineering week certainly marked a more pulsating novel era for everyone involved.

In this issue we also profile the CW34 Pneumatic as we endeavour to marry our

readership with their machines. We also offer tips on making our buildings more appealing and take you through the vari-ous stages of construction in light of the increased construction activities in our country especially in urban areas due to the increase in population.

Also highlighted are issues bedevilling the mining industry, from the need to support small scale mining, trends in illegal mining in the continent, dangers and solutions.

Once again thank you for being a constant means of support .The team is as always eagerly waiting to hear your feedback. Send me a note on [email protected]

Love

Eve

And my God will meet all your needs ac-cording to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus ( Philippians 4:19)

CONSTRUCTION & MINING MAGAZINE TEAM

EditorEvelene Taadira

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Advertising & MarkertingJosphat Katiyo

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+263773 257452/ 0733 848660

Chengetai [email protected]

[email protected]+263 773 684917/ 0734 375476

SalesAugustine Phiri

[email protected]@gmail.com

+263 773 413329

Creative & LayoutAdmire Marlon [email protected]

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CONTRIBUTORSConstruction & Mining Magazine

Research TeamWise Chindondondo

Linda Magwaro

Publishers OfConstrustion & Mining Magazine

19 Edmonds Road, Belvedere, HarareTel: 0773 257452 - 0733 848660

263 4 749298Email:

[email protected]

4 Africa Engineering Week

6 Zimbabwe To Attend Diamond Conference

7 Small-Scale Gold Miners Call For Gvt Support

8 Africa’s Construction Industury

10 Adding Value To Construction Firms On The ZSE

12 Home Security

14 Why Buildings Are Collapsing

16 Protecting Wetlands

22 Right Kind Of Floor

24 Home Insurance

26 Better Home

30 Good Design

34 Mining Laws

36 Timber Choice

4 Construction & Mining Magazine - October - December - 2015

Staff Reporter

Africa Union Chairperson President Mugabe has called on the continent to embrace the formulation of sustain-

able engineering solutions and collaborations as means of addressing its challenges.

President Mugabe said this in a speech read on his behalf by Vice President Emmerson Mna-gagwa during the recently held UNESCO Afri-ca Engineering week.

“If we want to improve our capacity to inno-vate, we need to change our culture. We need engineering professionals working towards the goal of a transformed engineering sector so that every engineering professional has the skills, knowledge, experience and attitude to contrib-ute towards sustainable development and pov-erty alleviation. We need expertise to tackle challenges facing Africa.

“The challenges facing Africa require formula-tion of sustainable engineering solutions. This brings the need to collaborate at not only na-tional and regional level but at continental level as demonstrated during this Africa Engineering Week.

The infrastructure provision gap in most econ-omies in Africa has become so pronounced to such as extent that it has become the biggest drawback to national development, the Head of State and Government said.

“In this instance, we are talking of lack of clean water, roads and railway infrastructure, tele-communication systems and energy to name just but a few. The need to therefore have an accelerated approach to address this gap is loud and clear. Africa cannot achieve the desired eco-nomic turnaround without addressing the high demand of infrastructure provision,” he said.The conference which was held in the resort town of Victoria Falls under the theme “Engi-neering Innovation for Accelerated infrastruc-ture developing for Africa” was aimed at in-creasing the visibility of engineering and its role in sustainable development, encourage students to study engineering and to incite more African countries to participate towards the sustainabil-ity of these efforts. It attracted close to 500 for-eign delegates.

President Mugabe said Government’s ZIM-AS-SET economic blue-print, needed engineers to join hands with Government to translate some of the broad strategies and provide solutions to various human challenges faced by the people of Zimbabwe and Africa at large.

“The engineering fraternity is crucial for pro-viding solutions to a nation’s prosperity. Engi-neering contributes enormously to every coun-try’s economy. Without access to engineering products and services any country’s economy would likely grind to a halt. The engineering fraternity has the responsibility to improve the life of citizens across Africa almost more than any other.

“Regardless of whether it is medicine or energy, computing, or transport, the engineering sec-tor’s involvement leads to products and services that make people’s lives better, healthier and safer,” said the head of state.

Government has already created an enabling en-vironment for the engineers to work in as they are a crucial partner in the development of in-novative infrastructure projects in the country, President Mugabe said.

“Government has put in place laws and policies that enable the capacity building of engineers, by ensuring that they take part in the projects currently taking place in the country as equal partners to the foreign practitioners. In fact it is our wish that local consultant engineers should

be involved in our projects on a scale greater than 50 percent to allow for homegrown designs and local foot-printing in our infrastructure. We currently have enough professionals who are able to add value and create wealth for the country.”

Head of Engineering Council of Zimbabwe Eng Ben Rafemoyo hailed Government for ac-knowledging the work of engineers in speeding development in the country.

“While in developing countries the ratio is one engineer per One engineer for 6500 people, we need more Engineers to develop

“We are now on course, it is a not so common area historically. The measure with which you see development in a country is infrastructure roads, rail, shelter and everything Engineers come into the infrastructural development. In-novation in infrastructural development is the foundation of any debate on development. We must produce more engineers so that we can

attract people back home, produce and retain good brains because of the development,

The shortage of engineers is a major concern in Africa and across the world where there

has been declining interest and enrolment of young people, especially women.

Engineering fraternity crucial to nation’s prosperity: President

Construction & Mining Magazine - October - December - 2015Construction & Mining Magazine - October - December 2015

6 - Construction & Mining Magazine - October - December - 2015

Zimbabwe’s Minister of mines Walter Chidhakwa is scheduled to attend the di-amond conference in Namibia

The World’s leaders in the Diamond Industry will come together in Africa’s best-kept secret, Namibia, for the International Diamond Confer-ence 2015 from 24 to 27 November. The Con-ference is themed: Omugongo, A Cut above the Rest. This prestigious event will be held at the Safari Conference Centre in the capital. This summit of Speakers from across the world is a unique forum for dialogue and cooperation be-tween industry leaders at the highest level. The overall theme of the Conference will focus on the “Challenges facing diamond beneficiation in Southern Africa: How can we make this indus-try viable and sustainable.”

OMUGONGO is a great tree under which soci-ety comes together to discuss matters affecting the community in a democratic manner.

The Namibian government has a 50-50 joint venture partnership with the De Beers Group and together have implemented a long-term economic development plan that aims to build a self-sustainable national gem-cutting industry. This will ensure the sustainability of an industry that accounts for about 30 per cent of Namibia’s annual export revenue, bringing funds into the country to improve infrastructure, childhood education and healthcare in local communities.

In order to protect the marine ecology and the coastal areas in which most of Namibia’s dia-monds are found, international environmen-tal standards are strictly followed in diamond mining activities. Namibia’s comprehensive environmental management plan has been in-dependently verified as ISO 14001 compliant, ensuring long-term ecological and economical sustainability of mining areas. “Namibia’s At-lantic coast area holds an estimated 80 million

carats of gems, which were carried to the sea by the Orange River and could be mined beyond 2050,” Hamutenya, Diamond Commissioner for the Republic of Namibia.

The highest quality diamonds and one of the World’s largest alluvial diamond deposits are found in Namibia. “Namibia’s diamonds fetch the highest prices because they are of high quality, pure carbon, spotless and they don’t disintegrate…what we don’t have in quantity is made up in quality,” Kennedy Hamutenya said in 2014.

The Ministry of Mines and Energy Hon. Obeth Mbul Kandjoze (MP) will open the two-day Conference. Industry expert Chaim Even-Zo-har will be coordinating the conference. Speak-ers include: Walter Chidakwa, the Minister of Mines and Mining Development of the Repub-lic of Zimbabwe; Shihaleni E Ndjaba, CEO at Namibia Diamond Trading Company (Pty) Ltd; Burhan Seber, President of the Diamond Manufacturers Association of Namibia (DIA-MAN); Kombadayedu Kapwanga, President of the Chamber of Mines of Namibia; and many others.

During the conference, the National Earth Sci-ence Museum at the Ministry of Mines and En-ergy will showcase some prestigious pieces of the Shining Lights Diamond Design Collection, some crafted by award-winning Namibian de-signers.

This Exhibition, entitled The Heritage Journey, will illustrate the process that every diamond goes through: starting at the mine and arriving as a finished jewellery piece. The beneficiation chain affecting all layers of the community - will be represented by professionals from the diamond cutters and the manufacturers associa-tions, who during the exhibition, will show how diamonds are being cut and transformed into

jewellery.

Both Namibians and international delegates will benefit from the Museum, as it promotes knowl-edge of geosciences and serves as a repository of Namibia’s minerals, rocks, meteorites and fossils through the display of rocks and min-erals, Namibian mines, meteorites and fossils. Throughout this time the new edition of “The Diamond Journey” book, realised under the leadership of the Diamond Board of Namibia, will also be launched.

At the end of the Conference, participants will be attending a Gala Dinner exclusively hosted at the Parliament Gardens, courtesy of the Na-tional Assembly. Her Excellency, Prime Min-ister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has been invited to open the ceremony. Michelle Mc-Lean-Bailey, former Miss Namibia and Miss Universe will be the host of the prestigious evening. Michelle is also a philanthropist and founder of a number of charitable organisations, including the Michelle McLean Primary School and the Michelle McLean Children’s Trust, both in Namibia, growing opportunities for children through education.

According to Mr Hamutenya, the Diamond Board of Namibia is proud to be hosting this event, to show the world the hidden jewel that is Namibia and the role that the Board plays in this industry. This responsibility includes the Board advisory role to the Minister of Mines and En-ergy on any matters relating to the diamond industry and the facilitation of the industry’s promotion and protection

Source voice of the people radio: http://w w w. r a d i o v o p . c o m / i n d e x . p h p / a f r i -cans-news/12838-namibia-to-host-2nd-inter-national-diamond-conference-2015.html

Zimbabwe To Attend Diamond Conference

Minister Walter Chidhakwa


Staff Reporter

Small-scale gold miners have encouraged Government to support them. The miners say

they are still receiving minimum Government support despite contributing to an average of 50 to 60 percent of gold production in Zimbabwe annually.

A Guruve miner, Mr Alex Moyo (not his real name) said those like him were struggling to reach full potential due to the shortage of min-ing assets and unavailability of funds.

“The unavailability of milling machines in and around our mining localities have forced us to travel close to 200km to the nearest milling

plant to have our ore refined and this is undesir-able. Our returns per week are also very small.“Guruve has lots of gold, but the only issue re-tarding production is the lack of machinery such as compressors and earth moving equipment for ground clearing and road construction. As such, the small scale miners resort to traditional min-ing methods that are very manual and harmful to the environment“We struggle to access loans from financial in-stitutions largely due to lack of collateral. Gov-ernment needs to look into this issue and come up with a loan facility for artisanal miners and also accelerate finalisation of legislation to de-criminalise the informal mining sector. Eventu-ally this will formalise this sector, improve on our infrastructure and increase in production ca-pacity hence bringing our economy to a boom,”

he said.

Small-scale mining activities employ thousands in the country. There is therefore increased need for financial institutions to support small-scale mining activity. Tax incentives for financial institutions who accept geologically surveyed claims as collateral for small-scale miners’ bor-rowing requirements can also be put in place to increase chances of these players accessing loans.

In other areas such as the Great Dyke, milling machines are readily available, but there is the lack of key extractive equipment which is safer and more efficient.

Small-Scale Gold Miners Call For Gvt Support


The case for investing in construc-tion on the continent is strong, with the following factors contrib-

uting to this robust case: rapid urbanisa-tion, strong current and projected econom-ic growth, a rising middle class, regional integration and strengthened democracy, transparency, accountability and gover-nance in many of Africa’s 54 nations. Each of these factors is driving opportunities on the continent.

In 2010 Africa had 51 cities with more than a million inhabitants, and only one city – Cairo – with more than 10 million. By 2040, it is expected to have more than 100 cities of more than one million inhabi-tants and seven cities of more than 10 mil-lion. These pressures are already being felt and in a bid to cope with this rising urban-isation, entire new cities are already being developed such as Tatu City in Kenya, the City of Light in Accra and King City in Takoradi, Ghana accommodating 178,000 residents between them and being built at the cost of US$300 million. In Nigeria, there is the Greater Port Harcourt City and the modern Eko Atlantic City being built on reclaimed sea.

These ‘self-contained’ new cities, based on

the work-play-live concept, are intended to relieve the highly congested metropolises and minimise the need for inhabitants to go into the ‘centre’. Indeed, demand for housing is growing across all price points. In Nairobi, for example, there is a demand for some 150,000 affordable new homes per annum at the lower end of the price spectrum, but with only some 30,000 units being built annually. Ghana, sits with a 1.6 million units housing deficit which is anticipated to grow to 3.6 million units by the year 2022 according to the Consumer Protection Agency of Ghana. While many countries in Africa have traditionally not had a developed mortgage market, this is changing as banks and specialised finan-cial institutions are rolling out new pro-grammes such as lower-income mortgag-es.

Ghanaians, for example, are now able to more easily access 15-year mortgages for 18,000 cedis (US$9,245) and this is, in turn, creating opportunities for developers.Strong growth and resultant shortages of office space: As more businesses access African opportunities and set up local op-erations, the acute shortage of high quality, well priced office space is being exposed. Office rentals on many parts of the conti-

nent are high commensurate to the quality on offer.

Business activity emanating from the oil and gas industry has further pushed rentals higher, making Luanda and Lagos some of the costliest cities in the world to live and operate in. In a 2012 cost of living survey, Luanda ranked as the second most expen-sive city in the world for expatriates. La-gos was ranked at number 39. To put this into context, Tokyo is the most expensive at number one, just one place ahead of Lu-anda, while Paris ranked 37, Stockholm 46 and Vienna 48. Luanda rentals can be in the range of US$150 per square metre per month and Lagos US$70.

A rising middle class and increased con-sumer spending power: The rise of the African middle class, as a percentage of the population, has been steady – in 1980, 111 million or 26% of the continent’s pop-ulation fell in this category rising to 151.4 million or 27% of the population in 1990 with a further surge to 196 million in 2000 and a dramatic increase to 313 million in 2010, equating to 34.3% of the population (African Development Bank, 2011). The rise in absolute numbers, compared to the percentage rise, has been more dramatic

Africa’s Construction Industry Opportunities And Risks


and this is best explained by the increase in population, with Africa having hit the 1 billion population mark in 2010.

The prime beneficiaries of this socio-eco-nomic trend are consumer businesses and, primarily, retail – food and clothing. There is currently an explosion of such businesses moving into the continent and with that, a rise in the demand for formal retail infrastructure.

To illustrate the scale of the opportunity, Nigeria is comprised of 36 states under its federal government system. With a popu-lation of 160 million, there are opportu-nities of scale across the country, beyond Lagos. The development of retail space is not happening fast enough and remains a key constraint to retailers’ African growth plans. This, in turn, is hampered by insufficient FDI inflows into property. This has now created an opportunity for institutional investors, including African pension funds, which traditionally have not invested in this asset class, but this is changing.

Regional integration and cross-border in-frastructure projects: Many of Africa’s 54 countries are small, with populations of fewer than 20 million and economies of less than US$10 billion. Their infrastruc-ture systems, like their borders, are re-flections of the continent’s colonial past, with roads, ports, and railroads built for resource extraction and political control, rather than to bind territories together economically or socially (PIDA, 2011).The essential benefit of regional infra-

structure is to make possible the for-mation of large, competitive markets in place of the present collection of small, isolated, and inefficient ones.

As regional bodies and the African Union continue to drive the integration imper-ative, this is creating opportunities for an array of large infrastructure projects that span borders. Initiatives such as the North-South Corridor and the South-ern Africa Development Community (SADC) Infrastructure Master Plan pres-ent massive opportunities for public pri-vate partnerships (PPPs). There is recog-nition that such PPP arrangements could assist governments close material finan-cial, managerial and technical gaps, while supporting further regional integration. For example, there is a US$100 billion funding gap for the SADC Infrastructure Plan. The North-South Corridor project is equally ambitious and costly. It com-prises 157 projects in the North-South Corridor, conceived as the area between Durban and Dar es Salaam, and includes 59 road projects; 38 rail projects and six bridge projects.

Risks and challengesChallenges of accessing funding for property developments in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Although some de-velopments in South Africa are funded with up to 100% debt, in the rest of the continent developers often need to put down around 50% in cash.For construction projects that cross bor-ders, there is a lack of alignment between national and regional priorities and leg-

islative frameworks. Where regional and continental infrastructure policies do ap-pear in national legislation, too often they are not enforced.

Construction costs (and professional fees) on the continent are high due to the non-availability of specialist building materials. Furthermore, is the high cost of land. An acre in a prime zone in Accra can cost up to US$2 million. However, these need to be balanced against rental yields of over 10% for retail, residential and industrial properties.

While there is a rising middle class in Africa, Africa remains a cash society and this places strain on household incomes. The mortgage market is underdeveloped or non-existent in the majority of the continent. The mortgage to GDP ratio for Ghana remains under 1% compared to 32% for South Africa (SARB, 2011) and 19.6% for Namibia (Bank of Namibia 2011). For most Africans wanting to own a home, the following approach is adopt-ed: come up with the bulk of the money in one fell swoop or begin accumulating cement, tin sheeting and other housing components in order to start working in spurts as the cash comes in.

This article is an extract from a Deloitte report entitled ‘Construction on the Af-rican Continent: Opportunities, Risks and Trends’


Linda Magwaro

Radar, Masimba (formerly Murray & Roberts), Zimre, PPC, Turnal, and Will-dale are construction related compa-

nies listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) and leaders in the construction sector. These companies are involved in most substan-tial, ambitious, capital intensive and long-term projects that deliver the infrastructure needs of Zimbabwe. Relative to the size of their portfo-lios, these companies devote much to the ZSE than the rest of the construction related com-panies. Their performance determines overall level and future of the construction business. It is assumed that at two percent financial growth it translates to five percent national growth. It is also expected that if construction companies listed on the stock exchange flourish there is a spillage effect on smaller firms. To be listed on the ZSE, means companies have to go through rigorous screening procedures such as having substantial holdings and giv-ing up a significant amount of internal control. Since they have to meet the minimum finan-cial and non-financial standards required, such as number of shareholders, earnings and stock price imposed, the listing results in competition with other non-construction players hence add-ing value to the sector.

By being listed these companies have managed to access all types of shareholders from the larg-est pension funds to the man on the street, who are thus able to participate as stakeholders in these businesses and access the important diver-sification benefits of investing in professionally managed companies. The question now is, has their trading experience on the stock market cascaded to the development of the construction sector? It is not a prerogative that their trading benefits boost the sector, however an analysis of some of the companies has brought out interest-ing discoveries.

In evaluating the performance of Radar, Ma-simba, Zimre, PPC, Turnal, Willdale as major construction companies it is acknowledged that their performance is significantly not equal and so are their market returns though they share the same environment. The belief amongst them

is that the Zimbabwean working environment continues to be a hindrance to them realising their optimum. Analysing the performance of these companies on the stock exchange brings more understand-ing about trading within this industry. Most of these construction companies have adopted re-structuring strategies in order to increase pro-ductivity; however this has not brought about a meaningful impact. Other small companies set to benefit from the trading activities of these companies are not benefitting. Their benefits ar-en’t cascading down instead what we notice is a proliferation of hardware mostly cement.

Shelter is basic yet construction growth goes beyond hard ware shops. Prospects for growth should go along concrete roads which have been proven to be durable than tarred roads. The issue of value chain has been distorted .

The implementation of the Industrial Develop-ment Policy was not followed by a policy shift towards the resuscitation of the construction sector through protective duty on imports and removal of tax on imported raw materials. This exposed the selected firms to extreme competi-tion from imports and lack of competitiveness of Zimbabwean exports. This has further exposed these companies to unnecessary competition. In the brick market, Willdale is facing tough com-petition. It now competes with Chinese brick makers and imports from Botswana and South Africa. The poor performance is also worsened by the NEC minimum wage of US$354 and this kills performance. Instead of Zimbabwe bene-fitting from the listing of Willdale on the stock exchange, nothing has come out.

The laxity in government policy has also proved to be a major retrogressing factor towards the adding of value by listed construction firms to the sector given the evidence of the moderating effects of Government support. The scarcity of long-term debt, absence of shareholders with the requisite financial muscle, inadequate and late funds’ disbursement under DiMAF leaves the construction firms with limited options to either continue with sub-optimal operations or discontinue certain operations. Further, the implementation of the indigenisation and eco-nomic empowerment programme (IEEP) and

restrictions of foreign ownership to 49percent and below also brought shareholding stability uncertainties and dampened the participation by foreign majority shareholders as in the case of Masimba. However, these companies have brought value on bringing in new machinery, application of new technology. An inventory of Zimbabwe’s construction industry plant resources revealed that there was plant and equipment with a value of US$ 250 million with half of the equipment 30 years old and 33 percent 25 years old and 14percent of the units obsolete and about 35per-cent beyond economic use (NEC Report 2011). This rendered Zimbabwean construction related firms uncompetitive versus the regional African construction related firms.

This sour experience has ignited innovation we see Lafarge and PPC operating with production sites in multiple countries, thus improvements developed at one site may be shared across oth-ers for efficiency gain. An advantage found in another country is shared within the whole firm whether in Zambia or Zimbabwe. This has en-hanced Zimbabwean construction related firms compete regionally.

The construction related firms have also part-ly solved the nation’s unemployment issues. Graduates and new entrants on the urban labour market have been absorbed thereby reducing unemployment, providing work attachments, apprenticeship courses for new recruits and permitting the establishment of small related business. The social, technological and finan-cial returns that these companies have brought is immeasurable.

Government policies including innovation and production incentives remain a key force shap-ing construction related firms’ activity in adding value to the sector. Subsidising and debt can-cellation can encourage local innovation and growth.

Linda Magwaro is a Research Fellow, at National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Construction and Building Department

ADDING VALUE TO CONSTRUCTION FIRMS ON THE ZSE


Burglary Prevention Advice

Is your property really safe once you leave for work or school? Your home is consid-ered a sanctuary where you should feel

safe. It is the only environment where you have control over who can get close to you or your family. Protecting your home and family from criminal intrusion should be high on your list of priorities.

By far, the most common threat to the home is burglary. By definition, the crime of burglary is a non-confrontational property crime that occurs when we are not at home. However, becoming a burglary victim can leave a family feeling vulnerable and violated. To avoid becoming a burglary victim, it is important to first gain an understanding of who commits them and why. Although home burglaries may seem random in occurrence, they actually involve a selec-tion process. The burglar’s selection process is simple. Choose an unoccupied home with the easiest access, the greatest amount of cover, and with the best escape routes. What follows is a list of suggestions to minimize your risk by making your home unattractive to potential burglars.

Doors and LocksThe first step is to make your home more diffi-cult to enter. Remember, the burglar will simply bypass your home if it requires too much effort or requires more skill and tools than they pos-sess. Most burglars enter via the front, back, or garage doors. Experienced burglars know that the garage door is usually the weakest point of entry followed by the back door. The garage and back doors also provide the most cover. Burglars know to look inside your car for keys and other valuables so keep it locked, even when parked inside your garage. Use high quality doors to re-sist twisting, prying, and lock-picking attempts. The most common way used to force entry through a door with a wooden jamb is to sim-ply kick it open. The weakest point is almost al-ways the lock strike plate that holds the latch or lock bolt in place followed by a glass panelled door. The average door strike plate is secured only by the soft-wood doorjamb moulding. These lightweight mouldings are often tacked on to the door frame and can be torn away

with a firm kick. Because of this construction flaw, it makes sense to upgrade to a four-screw, heavy-duty, high security strike plate. They are available in most quality hardware stores and home improvement centres and are definitely worth the extra expense. Install this heavy-du-ty strike plate using 3-inch wood screws to cut deep into the door frame stud. Use these longer screws in the knob lock strike plate as well and use at least one long screw in each door hinge. This one step alone will deter or prevent most through-the-door forced entries. You and your family will sleep safer in the future.

Sliding-Glass Patio DoorsSliding glass doors are secured by latches not locks. They are vulnerable to being forced open from the outside because of these inherently defective latch mechanisms. This can be easily prevented by inserting a wooden dowel or stick into the track thus preventing or limiting move-ment. Other blocking devices available are met-al fold-down blocking devices called “charley bars” and various track-blockers that can be screwed down.

The blocking devices described above solve half the equation. Older sliding glass doors can be lifted up and off their track and thereby de-feat the latch mechanism. To prevent lifting, you need to keep the door rollers in good condition and properly adjusted. You can also install an-ti-lift devices such as a pin that extends through both the sliding and fixed portion of the door. There are also numerous locking and blocking devices available in any good quality hardware store that will prevent a sliding door from be-ing lifted or forced horizontally. Place highly visible decals on the glass door near the latch mechanism that indicates that an alarm system, a dog, or block watch/operation identification is in place. Burglars dislike alarm systems and definitely big barking dogs.

• Use a secondary blocking device on all sliding glass doors • Keep the latch mechanism in good condition and properly adjusted • Keep sliding door rollers in good condition and properly adjusted • Use anti-lift devices such as through-the-door pins or upper track screws

• Use highly visible alarm decals, beware of dog decals or block watch decal

WindowsWindows are left unlocked and open at a much higher rate than doors. An open window, visi-ble from the street or alley, may be the sole rea-son for your home to be selected by a burglar. Ground floor windows are more susceptible to break-ins for obvious reasons. Upper floor win-dows become attractive if they can be accessed from a stairway, tree, fence, or by climbing on balconies. Windows have latches, not locks and therefore should have secondary blocking devices to prevent sliding them open from the outside. Inexpensive wooden dowels and sticks work well for horizontal sliding windows and through-the-frame pins work well for vertical sliding windows. For ventilation, block the win-dow open no more than six inches and make sure you can’t reach in from the outside and re-move the blocking device or reach through and unlock the door.

In sleeping rooms, these window blocking de-vices should be capable of being removed easily from the inside to comply with fire codes. Like sliding glass doors, anti-lift devices are neces-sary for ground level and accessible aluminium windows that slide horizontally. The least ex-pensive and easiest method is to install screws half-way into the upper track of the movable glass panel to prevent it from being lifted out in the closed position. As a deterrent, place highly visible decals on the glass door near the latch mechanism that indicates that an alarm system, a dog, or block watch/operation identification system is in place.

• Secure all accessible windows with secondary blocking devices • Block accessible windows open no more than 6 inches for ventilation • Make sure someone cannot reach through an open window and unlock the door • Make sure someone cannot reach inside the window and remove the blocking device • Use anti-lift devices to prevent window from being lifted out • Use crime prevention or alarm decals on ground accessible windows


Be a Good NeighbourGood neighbours should look out for each oth-er. Get to know your neighbours on each side of your home and the three directly across the street. Invite them into your home, communi-cate often, and establish trust. Good neighbours will watch out for your home or apartment when you are away, if you ask them. They can report suspicious activity to the police or to you while you are away. Between them, good neighbours can see to it that normal services continue in your absence by allowing vendors to mow your lawn or remove snow. Good neighbours can pick up your mail, newspapers, handbills, and can inspect the outside or inside of your home periodically to see that all is well. Good neigh-bours will occasionally park in your driveway to give the appearance of occupancy while you are on vacation.

Allowing a neighbour to have a key solves the problem of hiding a key outside the door. Expe-rienced burglars know to look for hidden keys in planter boxes, under doormats, and above the ledge. Requiring a service vendor to see your neighbour to retrieve and return your house key will send the message that someone is watch-ing. This neighbourhood watch technique sets up what is called territoriality which means that your neighbours will take ownership and re-sponsibility for what occurs in your mini-neigh-bourhood. This concept works in both single family homes communities and on apartment properties. This practice helps deter burglaries and other crimes in a big way. Of course for this to work, you must reciprocate and offer the same services.

• Get to know all your adjacent neighbours • Invite them into your home and establish trust • Agree to watch out for each other’s home • Do small tasks for each other to improve territoriality • While on vacation - pick up newspapers, and flyers • Offer to occasionally park your car in their driveway • Return the favour and communicate often Lighting

Interior lighting is necessary to show signs of life and activity inside a residence at night. A darken home night-after-night sends the mes-sage to burglars that you are away on a trip. Light timers are inexpensive and can be found everywhere. They should be used on a daily ba-sis, not just when you’re away. In this way you set up a routine that your neighbours can ob-serve and will allow them to become suspicious when your normally lighted home becomes dark. Typically, you want to use light-timers near the front and back windows with the cur-tains closed. The pattern of lights turning on and off should simulate actual occupancy. It’s also comforting not to have to enter a dark residence when you return home. The same light timers can be used to turn on radios or television sets to

further enhance the illusion of occupancy.

Exterior lighting is also very important. It be-comes critical if you must park in a common area parking lot or underground garage and need to walk to your front door. The purpose of good lighting is to allow you to see if a threat or suspicious person is lurking in your path. If you can see a potential threat in advance then you at least have the choice and chance to avoid it. Exterior lighting needs to bright enough for you to see 100-feet and it helps if you can identify colours. Good lighting is definitely a deterrent to criminals because they don’t want to be seen or identified.

Another important area to be well-lighted is the perimeter of your home or apartment especially at the entryway. Exterior lighting on the front of a property should always be on a timer to estab-lish a routine and appearance of occupancy at all times. Common area lighting on apartment properties should also be on a timer or pho-to-cell to turn on at dusk and turn off at dawn. The practice of leaving the garage or porch lights turned on all day on a single family home is a dead giveaway that you are out of town. Ex-terior lighting at the rear of a home or apartment are usually on a switch because of the proximity to the sleeping rooms. The resident can choose to leave these lights on or off. Security lights with infra-red motion sensors are relatively inexpensive and can easily replace an exterior porch light or side door light on single family homes. The heat-motion sensor can be adjusted to detect body heat and can be programmed to reset after one minute. These security lights are highly recommended for single family homes. • Use interior light timers to establish a pattern of occupancy • Exterior lighting should allow 100- feet of visibility • Use good lighting along the pathway and at your door • Use light timers or photo-cells to turn on/off lights automatically • Use infra-red motion sensor lights on the rear of single family homes

Alarm SystemsAlarm systems definitely have a place in a home security plan and are effective, if used properly. Alarm systems increase the potential and fear of being caught and arrested by the police. The deterrent value comes from the alarm compa-ny lawn sign and from the alarm decals on the windows. Home burglars will usually bypass a property with visible alarm signs and will go to another property without such a sign. Some people, with alarm systems, feel that these signs and decals are unsightly and will not display them. The risk here is that an uninformed bur-glar might break a window or door and grab a few quick items before the police can respond. Also, don’t write your alarm passcode on or near the alarm keypad.

Alarm systems need to be properly installed and maintained. The systems can monitor for fire as well as burglary for the same price and should have an audible horn or bell to be effective in case someone does break in. However, these au-dible alarms should be programmed to reset au-tomatically after one or two minutes. The crim-inal got the message and will be long gone but your neighbours will have to listen to the alarm bell, sometimes for hours, until it is shut off. If you use a central station to monitor your alarm, make sure your response call list is up to date. Home alarms, like car alarms, are generally ig-nored except for a brief glance. However, if you have established and nurtured your neighbour-hood watch buddy system, you will experience a genuine concern by your neighbour. It is not unusual to have a neighbour wait for the police, allow them inside for an inspection, and secure the residence. A good neighbour can also call the glass company or locksmith to repair any damage, if pre-authorized by you.

The greatest barrier getting to this level of neighbourhood participation is taking the first step. You can get help by calling your local crime prevention unit at the police department. Most police departments in large cities have neighbourhood watch coordinators to help you set this up. You should invite your adjacent neighbours over to your home for coffee and be-gin the information exchange. You’ll be amazed how the process runs on automatic from there.

• Alarm systems are effective deterrents with visible signage • Alarm systems to be properly installed, programmed, and maintained • Alarm systems need to have an audible horn or bell to be effective • Make sure your alarm response call list is up to date • Instruct your neighbour how to respond to an alarm bell

Home SafesHaving a safe in your home is a wise invest-ment. These are designed to keep the smash and grab burglar, nosey kids, dishonest babysitter or housekeeper from gaining access to important documents and personal property. Home safes need to be anchored into the floor or permanent shelving.

• Use the safe everyday so it becomes routine • Protect the safe code and change it occasionally • Install it away from the master bedroom or closet


Research Team

The increasing number of buildings collapsing while under construction or soon

after has reached alarming pro-portions and something urgent-ly needs to be done. Africa’s impressive growth rate even in the shadow of a gloomy glob-al environment has spurred the development of new buildings, apartments and shopping malls to cater for the needs of an expand-ing middle class and an influx of businesses wanting to setup shop in order to tap into this growing market. But even as demand for building services has risen the quality of the workmanship has begun to leave a lot to be desired resulting in several reports of buildings collapsing.

All too frequently there have been reports in the media of collapsed buildings caused by under de-signing in addition to bad work-manship and use of substandard building materials. This amongst other reasons has led to loss of life and limb not to mention the risk of financial ruin.

In 2013 alone, news reports of buildings collapsing claimed lives of more than 60 people across Africa. January 2013 saw five people lose their lives and scores of others injured in Kisu-mu, Kenya’s third largest town. At the end of March, a building under construction collapsed in Tanzania’s largest city, Dares Salaam, claiming more than 35 lives.

In November 2013 in South Af-rica, a country with a relatively safe record of building collapse. A roof of a three-storey shopping mall under construction collapsed killing two people and injuring several others in Tongaat near the eastern coastal city of Durban. These tragic incidences tell of an industry in dire need of reform.A laxity in the manner in which regulators enforce building by-laws has been identified as a major contributor to collapsing building phenomena and even when those responsible for flout-ing the laws are prosecuted it is apparent that they do not face stiff enough sentences that would act as a deterrent.

Public awarenessThe public has also been blamed for going for the cheap option. This leads to hiring of “Quarks” who end up delivering shoddy and unfit buildings. It is import-ant for both the public and clients to be educated that money spent on using the services of expe-rienced professionals is to their advantage and can avoid unnec-essary and costly expenditure that can occur in the event of building failure. Architects also need to take the lead and educate their clients that they have to appoint suitable professionals. Members of the public need to aptly de-mand for professional services quite often as they should. Gov-ernment also has a role to play in promoting the use of professional engineers and correspondingly the public needs to learn to make

use of professional services so as to boost the construction industry.Materials chosen for any con-struction activity should also be able to perform their required functions without any failure as any material can result in the building collapsing. Material choice remains the responsibili-ty of the structural engineer who should have the knowledge, ex-perience and understanding of materials chosen at the design phase, and whether they are able to perform their required func-tion.

Incompatible materials chosen for a structure can lead to materi-al failure and collapse and faulty construction and sub-standard materials during construction, in order to save money, and due to limited knowledge, contractors may want to take shortcuts in the construction and use sub-stan-dard and cheaper building mate-rials.

An engineer who does not in-spect and insist on materials and construction as specified is also at fault and contractors should know that negative consequenc-es of taking shortcuts and using sub-standard building materials can be far more costly in case of catastrophic building failure. Penalties should also be imposed in the event of a contractor not following specifications and local authorities should have the power to stop building work, until spec-ifications are adhered to.

The building and construction in-

dustry professionals play a major role in ensuring that all projects they are involved in are com-pleted successfully and without any room for failure leading to collapses. This calls for sufficient number of professionals to meet the growing demand from devel-opers. However, Africa is facing a dire deficit of these industry professionals.

Engineer Mustafa Shehu points out that most development con-trol offices in Nigeria do not have adequate technical capacity to handle checks and approvals of many designs are hurriedly done without checking in order to avoid delay. He says to get approval for a building project in a Nigerian city, Lagos, Abuja Port- Harcourt, Kano etc. as at now may take 6 months! He adds that qualified and competent pro-fessionals from the development control office are needed at var-ious construction stages of the project and indeed up to commis-sioning.

Professional regulatory bodies also have to take part of the blame for building collapses citing that in Nigeria, it is just recently they have started working on a propos-al whereby the Council for Regu-lation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, is to ensure that only qualified consultants work on any approved project and all engi-neering projects have to be certi-fied by COREN notwithstanding the processes at the Development Control offices.

WHY BUILDINGS ARE COLLAPSING


The construction industry in most Afri-can countries largely lacks professional engineers and this has led to substan-dard works in the industry. The former president of FIDIC, Mr. Geoff French, agrees that skill shortages is a major challenge facing the industry. He says the industry must continue to maintain the highest standards for sustainability, integrity and quality adding that if it does, its clients will increasingly rec-ognise the critical role of consulting engineers in providing the right infra-structure, in the right place, at the right time and at the right cost.

Governments should listen and imple-ment proposals made by professionals during conferences and seminars for the continued improvement of the con-struction industry. Building staff on site should be suitably trained and up to the job they have to perform adding that if workers are not qualified they should be trained and not be left to carry on work without supervision. He recom-mends that some sort of certificate be introduced as proof that workers are trained for the job they perform on site and local authorities should not allow building work to continue without an engineer appointed on the job.

Nowadays most architects these days merely design the project and once the controlling authority has approved the plans, they are not keen on monitoring the projects. The former President of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE), currently Direc-tor at Iliso Consulting in Centurion and President of the Federation of African Engineering Organisations (FAEO), Dr. Van Veelen agrees that apart from officials who turn a blind eye when ap-proving the plans for a building, lack of proper supervision during construction compounds the problem.

Qualified engineers should also be paid

during construction by the employer to perform inspections and to ensure contractors follow their specifications. He adds that no construction should be allowed to continue prior to the ap-pointment of a structural engineer tak-ing full responsibility for the structure. He concludes that authorities should inspect building work regularly togeth-er with the engineer and building work be stopped should there be instances where building codes and safety pre-cautions have not been met on site.

Building designsDr. Van Veelen, says that although there are cases where engineers have made mistakes in the design of a structure, most of the problems arise from de-velopers who take short-cuts and avoid paying the fee for a competent engineer, and officials who turn a blind eye when approving the plans for a building.

He adds that there are cases where a building is designed and approved for a certain number of floors but the de-veloper later illegally adds one or more storeys. He points out that excessive loading for which the structure was not designed is wrong adding that this is especially true for retrofitting air con-ditioning equipment on the roof of an existing building.

The developers in the Tanzanian build-ing that collapsed for instance violated a permit to build an apartment building with 10 floors and at the time of col-lapse, it had 16 completed floors, with 3 more planned for a total of 19 floors.

André Mellet says bad design by pro-fessionals can be a contributor. Mel-let says design is the responsibility of the structural engineer. He notes that a building is designed to withstand dead load or its own weight and live loads which are the weight of persons and ob-jects within the building as well as the weight of wind, rain and hail.

WHY BUILDINGS ARE COLLAPSING

He says structural failure occurs should the design be wrong and a component or the structure as a whole loses its ability to carry these loads. Andre notes that in a well designed structural system even localized failure should not result in immediate or even pro-gressive collapse of an entire structure. The design should also conform to minimum building codes.

André also lists foundation failure as one other con-sideration. He says a well designed structure will not stand on a bad foundation, since the structure might be able to carry its loads, but the earth below might not, and cause the building to collapse. He says extraordinary loads can also lead to collapsing of a building and are often due to natural causes like hurricanes and earthquakes. He notes that a building that is supposed to stand for many years is supposed to withstand these natural causes.

He recommends that structural engineers with expe-rience and knowledge of materials, minimum specifi-cations, building codes and structural systems should be appointed to perform the design of a structure. An-dre says that money should be spent on geotechnical studies to determine soil conditions. The engineer can then design the foundations correctly according to the building’s function and the soil conditions on site, minimizing collapse due to foundation failure.

Dr. Van Veelen concludes that while it is true that there are disturbingly many reports about the failure of buildings, there are many thousands of buildings completed where there are no problems and one can safely say that the failures are the exceptions, rather than the rule. He is however quick to point out that this does not take away the fact that there should be NO failures at all.

Everytime a building collapses the story never fails to catch the headlines and the media goes into a frenzy and both government and consultants issue statement of condemnation but little is done to re-verse the situation and once the dust has settled its back to business as usual. We can safely say that several factors are to blame that need to be tackled such as the lack of enforcement of bylaws, lack of site supervision, non-compliance by developers and contractors, fees undercutting, unregulated players, unplanned construction, incompetent professionals and use of substandard materials is to blame.

This therefore means that only a concerted effort will alleviate this state of affairs otherwise we will still con-tinue to read of more tragedies ahead.


PROTECTING WETLANDS VITAL FOR HUMAN SURVIVAL

Staff Reporter

Globally, Environmentalists are wor-ried about the construction of build-ings on wetlands. This development

which is being spearheaded by the increased need for accommodation in urban areas due to rapid rural-urban migration, especially in developing countries will lead to extreme water shortages and water pollution if not addressed in time.

African wetlands are among the most biologically diverse ecosystems on the continent, covering more than 131 million hectares, according to the Senegalese-based Wetlands International Africa (WIA). Yet, despite their importance and value, wetland areas are experiencing immense pressure across the continent. Commercial development ranks as the major threat for the draining of wetlands, including tourism facilities and agriculture, where hundreds of thousands of hectares of wetlands have been drained.Other threats to Africa’s wetlands are commercial agriculture, settlements, excessive exploitation by local communities and improperly-planned development activities. The prospect of immense profits from recently discovered oil, coal and gas deposits has also led to an increase in on-and offshore exploration and mining in sensitive ecological areas.

In Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique, for example, wetlands and estuaries coincide with fossil fuel deposits and related infra-structure developments. In Zimbabwe’s capital city, Harare, the pop-ulation has grown by more than 150 percent in the last decade leading to increased illegal and improperly planned housing construc-tion, most of which is happening in protect-

ed areas. Authorities have dismally failed to put an end to the situation and wetlands have been the most affected.

Generally defined as areas where water covers the soil or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year round or for varying periods of time during the year, these areas are vital for human survival. They are among the world’s most productive environments and cradles of biological diversity that provide the water and productivity upon which countless spe-cies of plants and animals depend for surviv-al.

Wetlands are indispensable for the countless benefits or “ecosystem services” that they provide humanity, ranging from freshwater supply, food and building materials, and bio-diversity, to flood control, groundwater re-charge and climate change mitigation hence

managing them remains a global challenge. Wetlands are among the most diverse and productive ecosystems. They provide essen-tial services and supply all our fresh water. However they continue to be degraded and converted to other uses.

Zimbabwe is a signatory of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of 1971 and has domesticated protection of the wetlands under the Environmental Management Act (Chapter20:27) Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007. The Convention’s mission is “the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and in-

ternational cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world”.

The Convention uses a broad definition of wetlands. This includes all lakes and rivers, underground aquifers, swamps and


marshes, wet grasslands, peatlands, oases, estuaries, deltas and tidal flats, mangroves and other coastal areas, coral reefs, and all human-made sites such as fish ponds, rice paddies, reservoirs and salt pans.

Managing wetlands is a global challenge and the Convention presently counts over 160 countries as member countries, recognising the value of having one international treaty dedicated to a single ecosystem.It uses a broad definition of wetlands which includes all lakes and rivers, underground aquifers, swamps, marshes, wet grasslands, peatlands, oases, estuaries, deltas and tidal flats, mangroves and other coastal areas, coral reefs, and all human-made sites such as fish ponds, rice paddies, reservoirs and salt pans.

Under the “three pillars” of the Convention, contracting Parties commit to working towards the wise use of all their wetlands, designate suitable wetlands for the list of Wetlands of International Importance and ensure their effective management and co-operate internationally on transboundary wetlands, shared wetland systems and shared species.At the centre of the Ramsar philosophy is the “wise use” of wetlands. When they ac-cede to the Convention and contracting par-ties commit to work towards the wise use of all the wetlands and water resources in their

territory, through national plans, policies and legislation, management actions and public education.

The Convention defines wise use of wetlands as “the maintenance of their ecological char-acter, achieved through the implementation of ecosystem approaches, within the context of sustainable development”. Wise use can thus be seen as the conservation and sustain-able use of wetlands and all the services they provide, for the benefit of people and nature.Contracting Parties commit to work towards the wise use of all the wetlands and water resources in their territory, through national plans, policies and legislation, management actions and public education.

In 1990, the Contracting Parties adopted Guidelines for the implementation of the wise use concept. The Guidelines emphasized the importance of adopting national wetland pol-icies, either separately or as a component of wider initiatives such as national environ-mental action plan, developing programmes covering wetland inventory, monitoring, re-search, training, education and public aware-ness and developing integrated management plans at wetland sites.

In Zimbabwe the Environment Management Agency assumes the role of guaranteeing sustainable use of the environment in Zimba-bwe. Agency Spokesperson Steady Kangata

says the group is doing its best to share infor-mation about the importance of not building on wetlands.

“Zimbabwe laws are very comprehensive when it comes to wetlands. We are part of the Ramsar Convention pertaining to the proper utilization of wetlands. We have even gone further to domesticate the provisions of the Ramsar Convention. Wetlands are protected areas. But in the urban sector there is pressure for infrastructural development.”Harare Residents Trust says Zimbabwe’s wa-ter rates are now high because of the destruction of wetlands.

Precious Shumba, head of the trust, said, “The monitoring framework is very weak. The Environment Management Agency does not follow laid down procedures when it comes to approval of buildings. There is so much corruption; there is no monitoring. The only relief that is available to EMA and the council is to charge penalties for violations. But they are not stopping; meaning to say our wetlands will continue to go.”



The Netherlands says it wants to help reduce gold leakages in Zimbabwe by stimulating European markets to opt

for the yellow metal that is sourced in a sustain-able and legal way. Dutch special envoy natural resources, Dirk-Jan Koch, told businessdaily last week that the Netherlands was committed to help revive Zimbabwe’s gold sector.

“There is too much illicit gold leaving the coun-try and the Netherlands can play an important part by promoting that European markets distin-guish between licit and illicit gold. Zimbabwe can work on the supply side while we can work on the demand side,” he said.

This comes as Zimbabwe is estimated to be los-ing millions in gold leakages on a monthly basis as gold smugglers are taking the yellow mineral across borders in search of higher prices.Mining experts say the mineral is mostly ille-gally sold in South Africa.

Koch, who met senior Mines ministry officials in Zimbabwe recently, urged the country to quickly formalise small-scale gold miners as a

way of reducing leakages as well as protecting the environment from informal panners.“We have many organisations which can really help Zimbabwe’s mining sector to get back on its feet, but first we have to be guaranteed that the mineral is being extracted in a way that re-spects the laws as well as the environment,” he added.

Although Fidelity Printers and Refiners is the only sole buyer of gold in Zimbabwe, official statistics show that both formal and informal gold miners are not fully complying with the country’s regulations.Last year, the government suspended 11 gold miners for non-compliance with mining regula-tions in a drastic measure to curb gold leakages and increase deliveries.According to reports, gold leakages have been cited as a major contributor to the decline in gold sales from 27 tonnes in 1999 to 12 tonnes per year now.

Zimbabwe Miners Federation statistics indicate gold production by small scale miners has slumped 17 tonnes at peak in 2004

to 959 kilogrammes in 2013 despite growth in the number of players, an indication the yellow metal finds its way out of the country illegally.Mineral leakages have been a headache for gov-ernment with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority recently acquiring new state-of-the-art mobile scanners and fixed scanners that are being in-stalled at various ports of entry as part of an ini-tiative to plug revenue leakages from minerals that are finding their way outside the country through illegal means.

This comes as the country, which was booted out of the London Bullion Market Association in 2007 due to depressed output, is making fran-tic efforts to be re-admitted into the prestigious club.

Source – The Daily News.

Netherlands For Zim Gold


Sometimes getting the best contractors in Africa for your construction or ren-

ovation project can be the hardest thing around in your mind.

In many situations contractors in Africa have done shoddy work hence as a construction manager it may be hard for you to know who has the best track record delivers quality work on time and on budgetAs a manager you should know that there is no other room for re-building or making mistakes when sourcing for the best contractor for your project therefore getting the best is the game at hand.So if you’re looking to a contrac-tor you may be able to find an attractive price, but choose care-fully. Here are key steps to follow in the hiring process.

1. Obtain ReferralsTake your time ask your fellow construction managers on the various ways to find potential contractors.

Seek referrals from various managers, family members and friends for this will give you a lead to the top constructors in the region.

With technology you can tap into social networking sites, such as Facebook, to expand your reach. Keep in mind though that anyone making a personal referral may not have had the same type of work done.

2. Carry out an Interview for the candidatesAfter getting referrals make sure that you carry out a serious interview having more of your staff so that you can identify the best of many Armed with a list, make some calls to get a sense for how comfortable you’ll be with them working in and around your home.

While carrying out the interview make sure you include top ques-tions such like

• How long have they been in

business?• Who will be assigned as project supervisor for the job and will workers be employees or subcon tractors?

• Does your company carry workers’ compensation and liability insurance?

• How many projects like mine have you completed in the past year?

• May I have a list of references from those projects and a list of business referrals or suppliers?

• Do you belong to any professional associations?

3. Narrow the fieldYou know the nature of work you have and so narrow down the foeld and make sure that you get the contractor that have main focus on what you are doing.Make sure you double check ref-erences to make sure past projects were done on time, at the expect-ed price, and that the quality and clean-up was satisfactory.After all of the background checks, set up face-to-face meet-ings with those who pass your ini-tial screen to discuss your project and get written estimates. Make sure to ask for an estimate that breaks down material and labour costs so you’ll be able to make specific service comparisons.

4. Finalize the dealGet an agreement in writing. A formal contract will provide protection in case something goes wrong.

For instance, problems may arise if the contractor doesn’t pay his suppliers. If he still owes money on the material or labour used in your project, you’ll want to have a lien waiver in place. This prevents a lumber company or subcontrac-tor from placing a lien on your home for the contractor’s unpaid bills.

Top Factors To Consider

When Hiring Contractors

How to prevent accidents on a construction site in Africa

Strategies to prevent accidents on a construction site in Africa should be in every contractors mind. Construction sites or building sites can be a very dan-gerous places with hazards from falling material and electrical faults as well as the dangers from power tools. In Africa, reports of accidents in a construction site has led to deaths and serious injuries.

Risks can be from commercial to small-scale residential construc-tion sites though no one would like to happen that’s why contrac-tors try all they can to see all their workers are safe and give them a bit of small training that will see them take high precautions and avoid accidents happen.

What all contractors should keep in mind is to explain to their workers that no matter how safe the site looks accidents and inci-dents are inevitable.

In Africa alone according to Deloite report on safety there is about 200,000 injuries occur while on site.With 130 million construction workers on the job at any given time, this number is likely to rise. Of the construction site injuries that take place each year, nearly 5,000 are fatal.

In order to prevent accidents on a construction site in Africa, there are some common accidents you can watch out for:

Trips and fallThis is one of the common accident that occurs in many construction sites. However much constructors try to avoid it, the problem continues unabated.

This occurs because in most construction site uneven terrain, tripping hazards, and conditions that require work on ladders, scaffolding, and roofs are regular therefore increasing the chances of falls.

Machinery/Vehicle AccidentsThere are a lot of moving parts to a construction site, including ma-chinery, vehicles, and large trucks on and around the job-site.

Falling ObjectsWorkers up high don’t always pay attention to what’s going on down below. This could result in inju-ries and fatalities due to falling objects and debris.

ExhaustionConstruction work usually requires hours of manual labour in the outdoors. This can quickly cause exhaustion and when workers are tired, it can lead to mistakes and an increase in con-struction site injuries.


However, the good thing is, accidents at a construction site can be prevented. After getting to understand the subjects that lead to construction accidents there is need to take every precaution that is needed to ensure that don’t occur on your construction site.

Here are just a few ways to avoid accidents at your construction site:

Mandatory Safety Meetings

Holding a safety meeting at the start of each day will ensure all workers are on the same page. In the safety meeting, you can mention changes to the construction site as well as what machinery will be used in different areas of the site throughout the day.

Safety Gear You should require everyone on the job site to wear the proper safety gear including hard hats and eye protection. Likewise, harnesses should be used for all workers working on rooftops and scaffolding.

Reflective Clothing

You should provide all workers with high-visibility apparel including reflective vests. This will reduce the chances of workers getting hit by vehicles and other machinery.

Regular Breaks

Make sure all workers take regular breaks to reduce the chances of accidents due to exhaustion.If you don’t want your construction site to be an accident waiting to happen, then put the safety pointers above to good use.


One’s flooring choice should go hand in hand with their taste and purpose. To choose the right material one needs

to consider a few things ahead of time such as how the room is typically used along with your family’s lifestyle. Taking a few moments to contemplate these considerations and prioritis-ing what’s really important to you will help you narrow down your focus to a short list of good candidates.

Floors take up a lot of visible space and it’s only natural to want them to look great. However practical aspects need to be put into consider-ation. One should not forget the practical as-pects when making a choice. The right blend of fashion and prudence should result in the right product for one’s home.

Don’t be afraid to think a bit differently. For instance it is easy to default to a wood floor because wood is a great surface and has been around for centuries. But there are advantages to other materials like cork or laminate too. Take time to think about how you live and match a floor that’ll meet your criteria for performance and aesthetics.

What one should know before choosingChoosing the right floor relies on an assessment of your wants and needs. The “wants” part of the equation is usually easier since you’ve probably seen some materials that really appeal to you. However do not forego the “needs” analysis be-cause the practical considerations are important determinants in making the right decision.Each type of surface comes with its own indi-vidual advantages and disadvantages. Consider the following points and questions to help nar-row your focus. You may already have a precon-ceived idea of the type of surface you want, but not all materials are suitable for every application.

Which room or rooms are you considering?The function and location of the room will have some bearing on the best surfacing to use .A car-pet is not suitable for the kitchen or dining room

due to the increased incidences of spilled foods and liquids. By the same token, a bathroom floor experiences a lot of moisture so flooring choices that can stand up to this type of environ-ment long-term are the best choice.

Consider your family status and lifestyle -- do you have children, elderly or disabled family members? Do you have any pets?

How you and your family live makes a differ-ence in choosing a floor type. Children usually mean more wear and tear from running, bang-ing and playing with toys. Some of the laminate products might be better in this scenario than site-finished solid wood due to the optimal wear characteristics of laminate. These products have factory-applied coatings that are designed to be very durable and scratch-resistant.

Pets like cats and particularly larger dogs have claws and shed. Hard surfaces work well for cleanup from pets that shed whereas carpeting might retain pet hair and dander. On the other hand claws can also scratch a wood floor.

Does anyone in the home suffer from asthma or respiratory allergies

Carpeting can harbor allergens that are more easily cleaned up from hard surfaces. Carpet and other floor materials can contain higher vol-atile organic compounds) that might contribute to ill health effects, particularly with those who are more sensitive to airborne allergens and

contaminants.

How much care and maintenance are you willing to put into the floor?

Some materials have higher maintenance needs than others if you want them to last and main-tain their aesthetic appeal. Wood should be swept or vacuumed often to avoid the dulling and scratching that comes with ground-in dirt. Stone or tile is durable although their finish will eventually succumb to a lack of regular sweeping.

How important to you is your floor from a style and aesthetics perspective

If you’re remodeling or building a new home you can apply the savings to something that provides greater service and satisfaction in the long term such as upgraded appliances or cabinets. Get out and test drive your short list of choices. If at all possible, visit several show-rooms or building supply outlets that sell the types of materials you’re interested in. Looking at pictures and reading about them is one thing but actually seeing them in person and standing on them can help solidify your decision on which product is right for you.Take some samples home with you (the kind you don’t have to return) and subject them to your own trials to see if they meet your standards for things like stain resistance, denting and scratching.

Happy flooring!


Homeowners need to purchase home insur-ance to protect their homes and personal property. Those who rent need insurance to

protect their furniture and other personal prop-erty. Everyone needs protection against liability for accidents that injure other people or damage their property.

The better your coverage, the less you will have to pay out of your own pocket if disaster strikes. In some cases, your lender decides how much coverage you need and may require you to buy a policy that covers at least the amount of the mortgage. It is important to note that the amount of coverage you buy for your house, contents and personal property will affect the price you pay.

Replacement Cost or Actual Cash Value?You have the option to choose to insure your home and belongings for either replacement cost or actual cash value. Replacement cost is the amount it would take to replace or rebuild your home or repair damages with materials of similar kind and quality, without deducting for depreciation. It is important to insure your home for at least 80 percent of its replacement value. Actual cash value is the amount it would take to repair or replace damage to your home after depreciation.

Shop Around Before You BuyYou are not required to purchase insurance from the company your lender recommends. There are a number of unbiased sources available to find out what different insurers charge for iden-tical products and services, including your state insurance department, consumer publications and your public library.

Ask Your Agent About DiscountsIn some states, insurers offer lower prices for such things as insuring your home and car with the same company, installing deadbolt locks or alarm systems or replacing the roof.

Basic Coverages AvailableWhether you own or rent, there are different packages of home insurance offered to protect your home and belongings. Each package pro-tects against a specified number of events that cause damage to property. Three examples are fire, windstorm and theft. In addition, each

package policy usually contains four additional types of coverage: property damage, additional living expenses, personal liability and medical payments.

Where to ShopCheck the newspaper and yellow pages of the telephone directory for companies and agents in your area. In addition, ask your neighbours, relatives and friends for recommendations on insurance companies and agents. Remember to shop around to get the best price and service.

Read Your Policy CarefullyYou should be aware that a home insurance pol-icy is a legal contract. It is written so that your rights and responsibilities as well as those of the insurance company are clearly stated. When you purchase home insurance, you will receive a policy. You should read that policy and make certain you understand its contents. Keep your policy in a safe place and know the name of your insurer.

Review Your Home Insurance Needs Every YearCheck with your insurance agent at least once a year to make sure your policy provides ade-quate coverage. The addition of a room, new in-sulation or remodelling add value to your home and therefore may increase replacement cost.

Ways to Lower Your Homeowners Insurance Costs The price you pay for your homeowners insur-ance can vary by hundreds of dollars, depending on the insurance company you buy your policy from. Here are some things to consider when buying homeowners insurance.

It’ll take some time, but could save you a good sum of money. Check consumer guides, insur-ance agents, companies and online insurance quote services. This will give you an idea of price ranges and tell you which companies have the lowest prices. But don’t consider price alone.

The insurer you select should offer a fair price and deliver the quality service you would expect if you needed assistance in filing a claim. So in assessing service quality, use the complaint in-formation cited above and talk to a number of insurers to get a feeling for the type of service

they give. Ask them what they would do to low-er your costs..1. Raise your deductibleDeductibles are the amount of money you have to pay toward a loss before your insurance com-pany starts to pay a claim, according to the terms of your policy. The higher your deductible, the more money you can save on your premiums. Nowadays, most insurance companies recom-mend a deductible of at least $500. If you can afford to raise your deductible to $1,000, you may save as much as 25 percent. Remember, if you live in a disaster-prone area, your insurance policy may have a separate deductible for cer-tain kinds of damage.

If you live near the coast in the East, you may have a separate windstorm deductible; if you live in a state vulnerable to hail storms, you may have a separate deductible for hail; and if you live in an earthquake-prone area, your earth-quake policy has a deductible.

2. Don’t confuse what you paid for your house with rebuilding costsThe land under your house isn’t at risk from theft, windstorm, fire and the other perils cov-ered in your home owner’s policy. So don’t include its value in deciding how much home-owners insurance to buy. If you do, you will pay a higher premium than you should.

3. Buy your home and auto policies from the same insurerSome companies that sell homeowners, auto and liability coverage will take 5 to 15 percent off your premium if you buy two or more poli-cies from them. But make certain this combined price is lower than buying the different coverag-es from different companies.

4. Make your home more disaster resistantFind out from your insurance agent or compa-ny representative what steps you can take to make your home more resistant to windstorms and other natural disasters. In addition, consider modernising your heating, plumbing and elec-trical systems to reduce the risk of fire and water damage.

5. Improve your home securityYou can usually get discounts of at least five

HOME INSURANCE


percent for a smoke detector, burglar alarm or dead-bolt locks. Some companies offer to cut your premium by as much as 15 or 20 percent if you install a sophisticated sprinkler system and a fire and burglar alarm that rings at the police, fire or other monitoring stations. These systems aren’t cheap and not every system qualifies for a discount. Before you buy such a system, find out what kind your insurer recommends, how much the device would cost and how much you’d save on premiums.

6. Seek out other discountsCompanies offer several types of discounts, but they don’t all offer the same discount or the same amount of discount in all states. For ex-ample, since retired people stay at home more than working people they are less likely to be burglarised and may spot fires sooner. Retired people also have more time for maintaining their homes. Some employers and professional associations administer group insurance pro-grams that may offer a better deal than you can get elsewhere.

7. Maintain a good credit recordEstablishing a solid credit history can cut your insurance costs. Insurers are increasingly using credit information to price home owners’ insur-ance policies. In most instances, your insurer must advise you of any adverse action, such as a higher rate, at which time you should verify the accuracy of the information on which the in-surer relied. To protect your credit standing, pay

your bills on time, don’t obtain more credit than you need and keep your credit balances as low as possible. Check your credit record on a regu-lar basis and have any errors corrected promptly so that your record remains accurate.

8. Stay with the same insurerIf you’ve kept your coverage with a company for several years, you may receive a special dis-count for being a long-term policyholder. Some insurers will reduce their premiums by five per-cent if you stay with them for three to five years and by 10 percent if you remain a policyholder for six years or more. But make certain to pe-riodically compare this price with that of other policies.9. Review the limits in your policy and the value of your possessions at least once a yearYou want your policy to cover any major pur-chases or additions to your home. But you don’t want to spend money for coverage you don’t need. If your five-year-old fur coat is no longer worth the $5,000 you paid for it, you’ll want to reduce or cancel your floater (extra insurance for items whose full value is not covered by standard homeowners policies such as expen-sive jewellery, high-end computers and valu-able art work) and pocket the difference.

10. Look for private insurance if you are in a government planIf you live in a high-risk area -- say, one that is especially vulnerable to coastal storms, fires, or

crime -- and have been buying your homeown-ers insurance through a government plan, you should check with an insurance agent or com-pany representative or contact your state depart-ment of insurance for the names of companies that might be interested in your business. You may find that there are steps you can take that would allow you to buy insurance at a lower price in the private market.

11. When you’re buying a home, consider the cost of homeowners insuranceYou may pay less for insurance if you buy a house close to a fire hydrant or in a community that has a professional rather than a volunteer fire department. It may also be cheaper if your home’s electrical, heating and plumbing systems are less than 10 years old. If you live in the East, consider a brick home because it’s more wind resistant. If you live in an earthquake-prone area, look for a wooden frame house because it is more likely to withstand this type of disaster. Choosing wisely could cut your premiums by five to 15 percent.


You’re going to build your dream home and you’ve thought it all through – or so you’ve thought. You know exact-

ly what you need and want to have in your home, but have you thought about what you don’t want and what you don’t need? Have you really thought the whole thing through? You have given much thought and consid-eration to what will work for you, but have you taken the time to think about what won’t work?

Poor planning and budgets that are too small can lead way to some wayward, inconvenient and disastrous mistakes. When you plan on building a new home, you must look at the home from many angles. You must consider your current and future lifestyles. You need to take family planning into consideration – Will your family be expanding? Or will your children be leaving the nest? Do you entertain often and host overnight guests reg-ularly? Take your time and do your research both online and in person. Be sure to take the time to meet with professionals in the in-dustry. Poor design choices can make your home not only uncomfortable, but downright unhealthy. Architects, engineers and builders are all trained to help you make effective de-

cisions. They will help guide you as to where you can save a few dollars and where you absolutely should not cut corners.

Careful attention should be given to the size of your units. Models that are too small will be underperforming and won’t cool and heat your home efficiently. You’ll come to regret this when your home is too cool in the win-tertime and not cool enough during the hot summer months. Conversely those that are too large will utilize too much energy.

Poor Space PlanningUnless you have plans to build a very large home, space planning and design is crucial. Ample storage is necessary, but pay attention to where you place your storage space. Does the master bedroom really need an oversized walk-in closet when the space could poten-tially be added to your bedroom or master bath? Pay attention to where you place your closets. There should be one in each bedroom and in a main hallway. But too many and the storage space takes away from the living space. Do you want a closet in the foyer? If you live in a cooler climate where coats are worn at least half of the year, this would be wise, especially if you entertain in your home

BUILDING A BETTER HOME


and the front entrance is the main point of entry. If you have no use for a coat closet, don’t build one. Do you plan on adding a mudroom? If so there should be a closet there or space enough to add cubbies or some other similar storage area.

Poor overall planningWhen designing your own home you should take your lifestyle and habits into consideration. How long do you plan on staying in this home? Will you need to accommodate safety features for new or young children? Or might you need to think of your needs later in life as you reach retirement age and beyond? Think ahead, long term, to see where you will be and what you will need from your home.

Poorly lit homesLight fixtures and outlets should be plentiful. As should windows. Windows should be present in every room and as large as possible. Natural light, when pos-sible, should be the main source of light. Think about adding skylights as well.

Under-utilized roomsThe addition of a playroom, game room or multipurpose room sounds enticing, but only plan to build a room that will actually get used. What good is a wasted home gym where the treadmill is used to hold clothes from last season? Often an unused room becomes a dumping ground to place those things that never get used. If you plan on adding a spare room, make sure that it is a room that can transition well from one type to the next. A sewing room may never get used, but a sewing room or office that also doubles as a guest room could indeed get used often.

Placement of the laundry roomThis is a very personal decision. Placement of the laundry room, or washer and dryer, should be relatively close to the bedrooms.

Placement of the bedroomThe bedroom needs to be as far away from the noise and traffic as possible. The master bedroom should not be near or above the garage if members of your family are likely to be coming and going while you are asleep or resting. It would be advisable to keep the master bedroom away from the central living areas as well. If your home is to be on one level, the master bedroom should ideally be at the far end of the house, the end furthest away from the garage. The master bedroom, ideally, should not share a wall with the central living area.

Placement of the kitchen.The kitchen should be placed, preferably, near a garage or back entrance, as well as near the dining and living areas.

The kitchen tends to get a lot of through traffic and it would therefore be best to di-vert the foot traffic from constantly traips-ing through the main living areas.

Placement of the garageIt is preferable to the garage on the main level, near a kitchen. The garage often feeled with people constantly coming and going and coming into the house with dirty sports attire, heavy backpacks, bags of groceries, and other large objects. Dirt and chaos to be limited to the kitchen and mudroom areas.

You best know your family and your fam-ily’s lifestyle and needs. Professionals can make suggestions but they cannot tell you what you do and don’t need. You and only you know what is best for you and your family. What have I not touched upon that is important to you in the overall design of your home?


MACHINE SPECIFICATIONS

OverviewThe CW34 is an eight wheel pneumatic roller that features a modular ballast system and flexible operating weight of 10 000 kg to 27 000 kg (22,050 lb - 59,525 lb). This machine offers excellent visibility, ECO-mode opera-tion, even compaction, and excels on a variety of materials due to its flexible air-on-the-run capability.

Weights (KGS)Operating Weight - Max Ballast 27000.0 kg

Operating Weight - Standard Machine Empty 10000.0 kg

Operating Weight - Max Water Ballast 13000.0 kg

Operating Weight - Max Wet Sand Ballast 16000.0 kg

Average Weight per Wheel 1620.0 kg

Average Weight per Wheel - Max Ballast 3380.0 kg

Average Weight per Wheel - No Ballast 1250.0 kg

Operating Weight - No Ballas 10000.0 kg

Operating Specifications Compaction Width 2090.0 mm

Turning Radius - Inside 6100.0 mm

Rolling Width 2090.0 mm

Turning Radius - outside 8700.0 mm

Ground Clearance 260.0 mm

Number of Wheels 8

Travel Speed - Maximum 19.0 km/h

Turning Radius - Inside 6.1 m

Engine Gross Power 96.5 kW

Bore 105.0 mm

Stroke 127.0 mm

Engine Model C4.4

Dimensions Overall Length 5350.0 mm

Overall Width 2160.0 mm

Height at Steering Wheel 2450.0 mm

Height at ROPS 3000.0 mm

Maximum Machine Height 3000.0 mm

Tires Tires 13/80 R20

Service Refill Capacities Fuel Tank Capacity 270.0 L

Water (Spray) Tank Capacity 380.0 L

BENEFITS AND FEATURES

Versatile Compaction PerformanceVersatile Compaction Performance due to the flexible ballast system, oscillating front wheels, and optional air-on-the-run. Flexible ballast op-tions include modular and non-modular steel, sand, and water. The modular steel ballast sys-tem can be easily added or removed, making it easy to adjust operating weights and match job site requirements.

Compaction WidthEight 13/80 R20 rubber tires provide overall compaction width of 2090 mm (82”) with 25 mm (1”) overlap.

Flexible BallastBallast options include modular and non-mod-ular steel, sand, and water. The 6.5 metric ton (7.1 U.S. ton) modular steel can be easily added or removed through bolt-on side panels. The in-ternal, non-modular steel consists of 6.1 metric tons (6.7 U.S. ton). Also, a 3 cubic meter (793 gal) water-tight chamber with baffled compart-ments prevent surge, and balance weight.

Oscillating TiresOscillating front and rear tires deliver vertical and horizontal forces that reduce air voids, pro-viding surface uniformity. Heat retention cov-ers trap heat to keep the tires warm and prevent pick-up. They can be easily stored when not in use.

Air-on-the-RunThe 13/80 R20 rubber tires can be equipped with the optional air-on-the-run system that enables the operator to quickly adjust tire pres-sures to increase or decrease static loads for op-timal surface quality.

Exceptional Visibility and Control

Source: http://www.cat.com/en_ZA/products/new/equipment/compactors/pneumatic-rollers/18359786.html

KNOW YOUR MACHINECW34 Pneumatic Roller


Exceptional Visibility and Control with sliding and rotating operator’s station, LCD display, and touch-pad machine functions, and option-al Compaction Control. This machine can be equipped with a Cab or ROPS.

Operating EnvironmentThe sliding and pivoting operator station rotates 90° to either side for ultimate comfort and con-trol. The new console design includes an LCD display and push button machine controls that simplify operation for an all-around comfort-able operating environment.

Cat® Compaction ControlCat® Compaction Control keeps the operator informed for higher performance and efficien-cy. Infrared temperature sensors combined with mapping keep the operator informed of when optimal conditions exist and where compaction has taken place. Temperature Mapping records data for future analysis, while Pass-Count Map-ping keeps the operator informed of the number of passes made.

Dual Infrared Temperature SensorsDual infra-red sensors mounted on the front and rear of the machine deliver real-time readings that keep the operator informed of when to be-gin rolling and when to stop. This system helps operators avoid tender-zones that often occur in the 104º-110º C (219º-230º F) temperature range.

Pass-Count MappingPass-count mapping helps operators achieve

target density and increase roller efficiency. The system records and monitors pass patterns in order to display coverage. The system also helps operators optimize drum overlap, simplify nighttime operation, eliminate second guessing and prevent incomplete passes such as stopping short.

Temperature MappingTemperature mapping provides a visual readout of mat temperature in order to keep the machine in the proper temperature range. The system re-cords and monitors temperature for future anal-ysis of the proper temperature range

Smooth Operating PowertrainSmooth Operating Powertrain with electronic propel control and smooth braking system. The three speed hydrostatic propel system delivers excellent gradeability with speeds up to 19 km/hr (11.8 mph).

C4.4 EngineThe Cat C4.4 engine meets U.S. EPA Tier 3 and EU Stage IIIA emission standards and provides 96.5 kW (131.5 hp).

ECO-modeStandard ECO-mode provides fuel efficiency and reduces sound levels.

Best Lifetime ValueBest Lifetime Value with ECO-mode operation, efficient engine, and durable rubber tires min-imize life-time operating costs and maximize profit.


Good DesignBEST OF YOUR HOMEG

ET

TIN

G

TH

E

By Staff Reporter

In the home or office good design can have a positive influence on how we live. Here we are not talking about extravagance but the sim-plicity of something beautiful and functional that brings one pleasure in the everyday life. Good design is inspirational.


If you look around, almost everything we see, hear, and touch is a result of the someone’s (or some heavenly being’s) creative vision. What moves a person is how personal and unique as the millions of designs we encounter daily. A good designer intends to make your environment personal and comfortable for you. The design process is intentional and customized to one’s specific needs, your desired aesthetic, and the ar-chitectural integrity of your home. Good design is everything.

A modern kitchen in the city’s CBD might not be the aesthetic one would desire for a self- catering lodge because of the entirely different environ-ment one would be needing to create. How we define that emotional connection to your space is important, that is the reason why even after a whole month in a five star establishment, the longing for home would not stop. It is this sense that a good designer should instinctively know how to execute.

Through a collaborative effort between both the owner and the designer better decisions are made. It is the job of the client and contractor to dig deep and ask clients to look closely at themselves and their lifestyles in order to understand how they will live in their new kitchen or bath. Designers enjoy this creative interaction and are passionate about delivering the highest level of service and the

best possible design for space. The result is worth the probing when you live in a kitchen, bath, or family room that truly reflects your own character and personality.

‘‘The design process is intentional

and customized to one’s specific needs, your

desired aesthetic, and the architectural integrity of your home. Good design

is everything.’’


UNPACKINGILLEGAL MINING

Illegal mining is the absence of land rights, mining license, exploration or mineral transportation permit or

of any document that could legitimate on-going operations. It can be operated in the surface or underground. Mineral resources should only be op-erated by a licensed operator along the laws and regulations set by the local government. In Zimbabwe, organisa-tions such as The Women Rural Devel-opment Trust are involved in the train-ing and registering of miners, mainly women in a bid to eradicate illegal mining in the country. The training and empowering of women to become le-gal miners is meant to end illegal min-ing that has contributed to a lot of neg-ative things such as land degradation, crime and death.

The trust works with various experts in from AREX, the Environment Management Agency, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, mining experts and government ministries. After securing mining land members are assisted to engage the Ministry of mines and Min-ing Commission to get a Prospecting License and Certificate of Registration.Since the early 1990s, in large part as a response to drought and impending hunger, many people, especially in the drier parts of the country, have taken to mineral extraction as a source of livelihoods. Several million people are regularly making at least part of their livelihood from mining. This is often a precarious, dangerous and risky en-deavour.

Legal small-scale artisanal mining ex-ists in many countries alongside large-scale mining hence that does not mean it is necessarily illegal mining. As de-fined by the Government of South Af-

rica, “Artisanal mining means small-scale mining involving the extraction of minerals with the simplest of tools, on a subsistence level”. Nevertheless, most illegal mining is characterized by the small size of its operations. Large-scale illegal mining operation is a very unusual phenomenon and is more likely linked to a non-authorized or non-documented extension of the granted land rights.

Most illegal mining takes place in low grade areas or abandoned mining sites. Low productivity and limited produc-tion are therefore the illegal mining main characteristics. Nevertheless, the size of the country and the frequency of the phenomenon can turn these mi-cro-productions into a visible portion of the national production.As reported by the Diamond Develop-ment Initiative, “more than a million African artisanal diamond diggers and their families live and work in absolute poverty, outside the formal economy, in countries struggling to recover from the ravages of war”. In poor countries there are consequently more people involved in the informal diamond ex-ploitation than there are in the formal sector. Illegal mining can be operated in the surface or underground. This is because most of the minerals are found in rivers, as a result, the mining compa-nies often resort to Blasting of Rivers and their surroundings to enable them access to the targeted minerals. This is done without caring about the effects and dangers this may have on trees, birds, animals, and even individuals in the various mining communities.Sometimes the activities of these ille-gal miners also release toxic substanc-es into the rivers, causing a lot of dis-eases to many people, especially those

‘‘Mineral resources should only be operated by a licensed operator along the laws and regulations set by the local

government’’


who fish from it. Deforestation, is part of the damages mining causes to the environment. It involves the clearing of the forest leading to cutting down of trees, to enable miners accomplish their mission, of extracting minerals.Illegal miners also do not put in place any measures that will safeguard them from taking risk. With the fact that the illegal miners are mostly unskilful, they also use unprotected tools and equipment making them a big threat to the nation.Therefore, for the mining sector to be successful, there is the need for stakeholders to make sure that, they perform their social responsibili-ties towards the various communities in which they operate, as a means of compensation to them, for taking away their natural resources. Pro-visions of facilities such as schools, hospitals, good roads, markets, electricity and others, will not only improve upon the developmental projects in the various mining communities, but the nation as a whole. In most mining countries, enforcement officers are in charge of spot-ting any signs of mining activities. Blasting operations which produce noise, vibration and fumes are a good way to identify illegal mining activities.

Nevertheless in many case, illegal mining takes place in remote loca-tion and blasting is not always necessary to extract the targeted resourc-es. More traditional methods such as scrapping, digging or screening are most likely in use especially when gold or diamonds are concerned.Installation of check points and patrols in rural areas or port facilities are also part of some countries’ strategy to search for shipments of il-legal minerals.

In the case of illegal underground mining the techniques in use for identifying surface illegal mining are inadequate or poorly conclusive. The first obvious characteristic is the deformation due to underground mining under which mining occurs. Excavation of minerals reduces the support of the ground surface above the mine area.As far as mining is concerned, the greatest subsidence mostly occurs in the surface centre of underground mining activities. The difference in

subsidence magnitude reveals un-valuable details on the exploitation process and methods. Although the technology exists and its efficien-cy has been demonstrated, its large–scale application remains difficult considering the high cost involved both in terms of equipment and qual-ified data analysts. The threshold of the gradient contours is currently based on manual processing and requires large insight and experience.

International initiatives, such as the UN-mandated Kimberley Process bring the necessary resources to organize a structured fight against il-legal mining. The shortfall that illegal mining represents for countries revenue is an obvious incentive for investing in large-scale tracking technologies


IMPORTANT PIECES OF LEGISLATION IN THE MINING SECTOR

Listed below are some of the important pieces of legislation that govern mining operations. Anyone involved in mining in Zimbabwe should be familiar with the provisions of these pieces of legislation as they detail the obliga-tions of holders of mining locations. • Mines and Minerals Act Chapter 21:05• Explosives Regulations• Mining (General) Regulations• Mining (Managements and Safety) Regulations• Mining (Health and Sanitation) Regulations• Mines and Minerals (Custom Milling Plants) Regulations• Gold Trade Act• Precious Stones Trade Act• Environmental Management Act• Environmental Regulations• Forestry Act• Water Act• Zimbabwe National Water Authority Act

There are other pieces of legislation that impinge on the operation of commercial ventures such as the Companies Act, the Sales Tax Act, Exchange Control Act and others that mining companies as commercial activities need to comply with. (Hard copies of all pieces of legislation may be purchased from the Printflow).

PROSPECTING, EXPLORATION AND MINING TITLES

The Mines and Minerals Act Chapter 21:05 is the law for the mining industry in Zimbabwe. There are other Acts and Regulations that draw their existence from this Mines and Minerals Act. The Act has been acknowledged as a good piece of legislation by both local and international investors. Given recent

developments in the SADC region there is a growing need to refine the Act so that it continues to provide a competitive operating framework for investors. The government is in the process of amending the Mines and Minerals Act to provide stronger environmental provision in line with the Environmental Management Act that came into force in 2007.

The amendments are also intended to:• Simplify the Mines and Minerals Act• Provide for a computerised cadastre unit to manage mining titles Mineral resources are vested in the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe. This provision conforms to the international norm where resources are held by the state on behalf of the people of the country. One acquires the right to search for and work the resources by obtaining licences. These licences are applied for through the Mining Commissioner from the mining district in which the resource is located.

PROVISIONS IN CURRENT MINES AND MINERALS ACT

Rights to mineralsThe dominion in the right of searching and mining for and disposing of all minerals, mineral oils and natural gases is vested in the President. Any person of 18 years of age or older who is a permanent resident of Zimbabwe or his agent may acquire one or more prospecting licences on payment of the appropriate fee. The licence to acquired is valid for 24 months. Any person may make written application to the Mining Affairs Board for authority to prospect on reserved ground

Exploration and Prospecting:Three types of titles are available for searching for minerals. These are Exclusive Prospecting Licence, Special Grant and Prospecting Licence.Land open to prospecting

• All State Land and Communal Land.• All private land to which there has

been reserved, either to the British South African Company or to the Government of Zimbabwe, the right to all minerals or power to make grants of the right to prospecting of minerals.• All land held by any person under enactment or agreement whereby such person is entitled to obtain from the State title thereto on the fulfilment by him the conditions prescribed by such enactment. Prospecting Licence:Any person above the age of 18 years may apply for a prospecting licence. The licence provides the right to search for minerals and peg claims. There two types of prospecting licences the Ordinary Prospecting Licence and the Special Prospecting Licence.

Exclusive Prospecting Orders (EPO): Any person may make written application to the Board for an EPO in his/her favour over any defined area in Zimbabwe, including any area reserved from prospecting. On application the applicant shall pay a deposit, as gazetted from time to time (Contact to Geological Survey of Zimbabwe). If the Board is satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to obtain the order and is of adequate financial standing to undertake the operations under the order; and that it would not be against the national interest to make such an order, then the Board may recommend to the Minister to make the EPO in favour of the applicant. No EPO shall be granted for a period exceeding three years but an order may be extended by the Minister on recommendation by the Board for a further period not exceeding three years in all.The rights granted under an order shall be personal to the authorised holder who may not cede or assign any such rights to another person. The Minister may, on the recommendation of the Mining Affairs Board and with the consent of the concession holder, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, authorise any person to peg and register for a mineral other

Zimbabwe


than a mineral for which the concession holder is authorised to prospect.Every concession holder shall submit for the approval of the Board, a programme of work containing particulars of the intended prospect-ing operations and their costs.The concession holder shall carry out the approved programme and submit to the Board a report of the work carried out during the period covered by the programme including expenditure incurred. If the concession holder fails to submit the report, he/she is notified in writing by the Board that his/her order is liable to be revoked. If no report is received within 21 days of such notification then the Minister shall revoke the order.Special Grant (under Part XIX of the Mines and Minerals Act): This title provides the holder with the right to prospect for minerals in an area reserved against prospecting and pegging of claims. The title provides the duration of validity of the right to prospect and peg and the terms and conditions under which title will operate. The Secretary for Mines issues the Special Grant.

Titles for mine development and mining:The titles available for mine development and mining include Mining claim (normally registered as a block of claims), mining lease, Special Grant and Special Mining Lease.

Mining leases: The holder of a mining location or contiguous registered mining locations may make written application to the mining commissioner for the issue to him of a mining lease in respect of a defined area within which such locations are situated. The holder of a mining lease has the exclusive right of mining any deposit or mineral that occurs within the vertical limits of his lease.Special mining leases:

The holder of one or more contiguous mining locations who intends to establish or develop a mine thereon and investment in the mine will be wholly or mainly in foreign currency and will exceed US$100 million in value, and the mine’s output is mainly intended primarily for export, may apply in writing to the mining commissioner for a special mining lease of a defined area within which his mining locations are situated.The board may permit a person to make an application notwithstanding that either or both the criteria mentioned above will not be met, if the Board considers that it is desirable in the interest of the development of Zimbabwe’s mineral resources.

Having received the application the Board shall forward it to the Minister together with their recommendations. The Minister shall submit them to the President together with his own recommendation for the President’s approval.

Special grant:The Secretary may issue to any person a special grant to carry out mining of coal, minerals oils or natural gas.

Mining Claims:A holder of a prospecting licence may peg claims and register the claims for the purpose of

mining. The maximum size of the each precious metal block of claims is 500m X 200m. This constitutes a block of 10 claims. Base metal claims pegged by a holder of an ordinary pros-pecting licence may not be more than 25 claims and each claim shall not exceed one hectare in extent. The length of any straight line between any two points may not exceed 250m. Base metals pegged by a holder of a special prospect-ing licence may not exceed 150 claims and each claim may not exceed one hectare in extent. The length of any straight line between any two points may not exceed 2000m.

Mining rightsPriority of acquisition of title to any location, reef or deposit, if such title has been dully maintained, shall in every case determine the rights as between the various peggers of mining locations as the aforesaid and in cases of dispute the rule shall be followed that, in the event of any rights of any subsequent pegger conflicting with the rights of a prior pegger, then, to the extend to which such rights conflict, the rights of any subsequent pegger shall be subordinate to those of the prior pegger.

Preservation of mining rightsThe holder of any block of base mineral, reef or placer deposit claims registered as precious metal or of any mining lease shall, within six weeks of registration, apply to the mining commissioner for and obtain a certificate of inspection in respect of work executed on the mining location. The Secretary may authorise a mining commissioner to grant a protection certificate in respect of any block of reef or placer deposit claims.

Alluvial, eluvial, rubble deposit, dumps and precious metal blocks: The holder of such blocks shall continuously work his claims from the date of registration of such blocks and shall pay to the mining commissioner annually in advance the prescribed fee in respect of such blocks.

Working other designated mineral deposits:The minister may, by statutory instrument, declare any mineral to be a designated mineral for the purpose of the control of working such a mineral and may revoke in like manner any such mineral.

Other entry points into mining:There are various entry points into mining. One may elect to start the process from prospecting stage until mining, while others may elect to en-ter into agreements to acquire mining locations owned by others. The later entry points are detailed below.

Transfers:When any registered mining location or any interest therein is sold or otherwise alienated, the seller or person who so alienates shall notify the commissioner of the transaction within 60 days of the date of transaction. The seller shall provide the following information to the Mining Commissioner:

• the name of the person to whom such location or interest is sold or other

wise alienated• the amount of the valuable consideration, if any, agreed upon,• The date of the transaction.

The agreement should be registered with the mining commissioner. A transfer duty is payable by the purchaser on the sell at a fee prescribed by parliament. This duty should be paid within six months. If payment is partly in cash and partly in shares of a company, the nominal value of the shares shall be used. In the case where payment is contingent upon some future event the purchaser shall give security to the satisfaction of the Mining Commissioner that he will pay the transfer duty at a fixed rate when the consideration becomes due.

No transfer is possible if:o The mining location is liable for for feiture or under attachmento Duties, fees, royalties, rentals and other payments in respect of the mining location are outstanding with the Mining Commissioner’s office.o There are outstanding payments due to the Rural District Council

Transfers can only be made to permanent residents of Zimbabwe. In the case where transfer is to be made to non-residents the Mining Commissioner has to receive assurance from Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe that all exchange Control requirements have been fully complied with. On receipt of the fee the Mining Commissioner will then issue the new owner with a new certificate of registration.

Tributes:If any holder of a registered mining location has agreed in writing to grant a tribute to any other person, the tributor may apply to the mining commissioner for the registration of a notorial deed embodying the terms of such agreement.

The holder of the mining location is to provide the following to the mining Commissioner:• Names of parties to the agreement• Name and registration number of the mining location• Date upon which the rights conferred by the agreement will commence and expires.

If the agreement confers the tributor the option to exercise the right to purchase the location at a future date then the agreement will be registered as an option agreement.

Options:An option to purchase or otherwise deal with a mining location can be agreed between the holder of a mining location and the potential buyer. The holder may apply to the Mining Commissioner for registration of a notarial deed embodying the terms and conditions of the contract between the parties. A prescribed fee is payable.

Source: http://www.chamberofminesofzimba-bwe.com/article.php?id=92&p=mi


Timber is the most useful and important material for construction in building without which entire process is incomplete. Selecting timber is not an

easy task as it seems to be, because it has different types and selecting the right material is an important key. Timber is again an expensive material to be in-corporated in a building for a different purpose for which it should be strong and tough. Doors or win-dows whatever it is, contribute a lot in the beautifica-tion and overall look of interiors.

There are many useful needs of timber during the construction of building such as in doors, windows, cupboards, cabinet and railings etc. Timber is gener-ally used in the form of plywood & raw wood in their products like ply blocks and ply boards. Heavy pat-terned doors and windows are made with solid wood/Timber to provide the strength and toughness.

Timber has many other uses but which type of timber should be used for right purpose is important to know because if timber used in construction comes out to be of low quality then you may need replacement again and again. Timber should be considered for its quali-ty aspect as timber must be free from any decay like rotten, fungi and mold or termite. Make sure the tim-ber you select is qualitative as even a single knot can bring down the show of whole wood work.

Before purchasing timber material for the construc-tion, one must be well informed regarding timber types and forms to select. The type of timber selected must be checked properly to make sure that it is free from any kind of mold, fungi, knot, or warp so that it would not give problem afterward.

Teakwood is absolutely the best timber to use in the construction of building. Teakwood is naturally dura-ble wood that is incorporated just on its good merit and adaptability although it is prone to attack by white ant and insect. Yet builders choose it for its natural look, durability and long lasting characteristics. To-day eventually many substitutes have come that give resemblance of teakwood but nothing can give good quality of original teakwood.Sal is another timber material that can be selected and it is identified as much stronger and quite harder than teakwood. Sal is completely durable, harder, heavier and tougher than other timber material used in build-ing. Sal wood is also less prone to termite or fungi attack while it can be used for several constructive purposes.

Deodar is strongest Indian conifer, although it has less strength and weight than teakwood yet deodar has maintained it good image for its durability. Deodar wood is easily cast in any shape as it is easy to saw. This type of wood is generally used for building & construction in homes and other structures.Hardwood is a form of wood which is treated thor-oughly before use because it is not that durable as teakwood or deodar. Hardwood has to go through different treatments to conform to building norms and durability. Generally after treated through wood preservative and polishing hardwood gets suitable for house building structure.

Ply board is commonly used in buildings for various purposes and they are formed by pressing together several layers of wood.Particle board is usually made from agro waste, cel-lulose and blended with adhesive to make into solid board.

After knowing the guidelines of purchasing timber there is a need to be familiar with the precautions that has to be remembered at the same time. There are few things related to purchasing of timber as this is an im-portant task and timber is being installed for the long time and any negligence can cost heavy afterwards. So we must be careful while purchasing good & qual-itative timber. Here are some precautions needed while purchasing timber:• Verifying the rates before heading into the market is significant. Rates of log, wood and pieces relies on their length and quality as well as quantity. So it is important to head hunt the rates of wood from different distributors of timber.

• Quality is always necessary and better than quantity in everything while in matters of wood quality is not only important but essential to prevent problems later on. Make sure the timber you purchase should be from good and qualitative brand.

• For cost effectiveness buy wooden logs lengths wise this will save the timber from unnecessary wastage and certainly costs you less.

• Check the thickness and width of wood before buying as such logs are considered ideal compare to timber that is thin and has less width.

• While analysing the timber content, check thoroughly the presence of knots, cracks, fungi or holes. If there is such in the wood then it is advisable to leave that timber as it is not suitable for construction purpose.

• Check out the colour or upper layer of timber by scratching properly as shop keepers tend to paint the timber for selling and earning out of wrong material. Such timber has conse quences afterwards and it is better to choose the right wood for the construction.

• Sometimes logs of wood having broken ends or cracks are filled by chemical substance which must be checked by rubbing the suspecting mark with hard object.

• Check the warp on the wood and if it is present then avoid purchasing that log.

• Pick the needful wooden logs by measuring the re quired length and width.

• If possible bring the right person or carpenter who may know every requirement related to the mea surement and other aspect of wood better than you.

The Best Timber Choice


MINING AND EnviromentalCONSERVATION

Research Team

Africa is on the verge of an unprec-edented mining boom. This boom is attracting tens of billions of

dollars in foreign investment (Janneh & Ping 2011; Zhang 2011) and will result in substantial economic growth and develop-ment, but it also carries big risks for Afri-can societies and the environment.

The continent contains around 30% of the world’s mineral resources—including the largest known reserves of a wide range of strategically important minerals, includ-ing phosphate, platinum-group metals, gold, diamonds, chromite, cobalt, man-ganese, and vanadium, and huge deposits of aluminium, uranium, iron ore, and coal .Yet with less than five percent of global mineral exploitation having occurred in Africa, and large parts of the continent be-ing geologically unexplored, the potential

for growth is enormous

The upsurge in mineral exploration and exploitation is often linked to major in-frastructural projects, including roads and railways to move commodities from mine to smelters, as well as shipping ports for export, and hydroelectric dams. This tsu-

nami of mining and infrastructural invest-ment is creating a new optimism in Africa about economic development and poverty alleviation, but it is also occurring in a complex socioeconomic context. African countries certainly have concerns about these issues, but few have governance ca-pacity to deal with the scale and speed of the present wave of investments. The negative impacts of mining are both direct and indirect. Direct effects occur within the immediate confines of the mining enterprise .Indirect effects are a consequence of external infrastructure, pollution, synergistic developments, and population migration. In terms of direct negative impacts on the natural environ-ment, mines can directly remove, frag-ment, or degrade natural habitat, with the affected area. The immediate, relatively local environmental impacts of mining per se may be dwarfed by the potentially far more wide-ranging impacts of mining infrastructure and socioeconomic change. The expansion of roads and railways driv-en in part by extractive industries remains one of the biggest threats to natural habi-tats and wildlife populations (Blake et al. 2007; Laurance et al. 2009), and will in-crease access to some of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems, including the east-ern Congo rainforests, the Miombo and Guinea woodlands, and the Rift valley savannas and mountains

By creating and improving infrastructural networks, mining could have major im-pacts on the spatial patterns of rural de-velopment in Africa. Mining roads will certainly encourage major movements of populations into hitherto sparsely populat-ed regions and this will increase pressures from land clearing and bush meat hunting for local consumption. Extractive indus-tries also attract a rush of migrant people from outside the mining areas in search of work or to undertake small-scale artis-

anal mining outside the boundaries of the “official” mine. Artisanal miners are eco-nomically marginalized people using un-regulated, improvised, and often harmful extraction methods to piggyback onto op-erations involving precious commodities, especially gold and diamonds.

Vast sums of money from mining and weak national governance result in wide-spread corruption. Many governments also lack the capacity to implement ade-quate mining-development controls, par-ticularly given the potential for civil un-rest over access to valuable minerals such as diamonds, as evidenced by past con-flicts in Angola, Sierra Leone, and Libe-ria. The potentially toxic mix of massive investment in mining, weak governance and enforcement capacity, corruption, and civil unrest mean that legal frameworks to protect environmental resources are fre-quently subverted or totally ignored in the pursuit of mining and self- interest (Lau-rance 2004).

Also threatened are ecologically import-ant forests that are currently unprotected. As such, safeguarding protected areas from mineral exploitation alone would do little to shield endemic biodiversity from mineral exploitation. If biodiversity is to be protected during the coming mining boom, as many as one-quarter of all mines may require special measures to conserve globally important biodiversity that would be impacted by mining development.

In some instances however, mining op-erations have effectively created conser-vation zones and, as such, offset some of their negative impacts. Several large-scale mining projects, such as the Mbalam iron-ore mine adjacent to the Dja World Heri-tage site in Cameroon, now include pro-vision for biodiversity set-asides, which would protect rare forest mammals (Reed & Miranda 2007). Such set-asides and ex-


clusion zones, if well managed, may help to balance resource extraction with conser-vation, particularly in endemic-rich locales that lack formal protection.

Among development agencies, convention-al wisdom in recent years has been that for-eign direct investment is essential to grow African economies and alleviate poverty (Broadman 2007). Some have argued that it is easier to achieve positive environmental outcomes in situations of growing econo-mies (Sayer et al. 2012a). Mining certainly affords large foreign and domestic invest-ment, with billions of dollars of mining revenues and royalties already flowing to African governments (Stürmer 2008, 2010) and with the prospect for some poverty al-leviation (assuming that mining proceeds do not simply end up enriching social and economic elites, or driving major economic inflation; Auty 1993). If mining investment could be achieved in situations of strong governance allowing for biodiversity pro-tection, ecosystem services, and sustain-

ability concerns, then there could potential-ly be win-wins for society and conservation (Sachs et al. 2009; Sayer et al. 2012b). Un-fortunately, when mining encourages cor-ruption and weakens national governance, both social and environmental goals are damaged.

Mining has the potential to drive develop-ment processes in ways that might contrib-ute to nature conservation. Most of Africa’s agriculture is relatively unproductive and vast areas are exploited for meagre returns. Improved transport networks promoted by mining could increase small farmers’ access to chemical fertilizers and reduce transport costs and wastage, improving farm profit-ability (Faye et al. 2004; Gajigo & Lukoma 2011). Under this scenario, Africa’s food production could rise significantly with-out a major expansion of the area under cultivation, to the benefit of biodiversity. . The agricultural footprint of Africa’s many smallholders could thus continue to expand

Traditionally, industrial mining in Afri-ca was controlled by western companies with neo-colonial attitudes and a capital-ist, market-driven approach to extraction, with much of the profit made offshore and a narrow focus on the mine site. By contrast, Chinese and Brazilian operators appear to be taking a strategically much broader approach, offering soft loans, develop-ment-assistance packages, and infrastruc-ture development, in return for mining or exploration rights (Carmody 2011; Moyo 2012). Understanding the nature of these two business models and their synergies with other development activities is vital to predicting and mitigating the implications of mining for the African environment.

Most large mining companies conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and related social studies, and should apply strict mitigation controls within the con-fines of the mine. However, government control and enforcement of EIAs is often


weak or totally absent. The Extractive In-dustries Transparency Initiative (EITI 2013) also shows promise of combating the cor-rupting influence of mineral industries. It is under these international frameworks that we foresee leverage in promoting and obtaining adequate safeguards to ensure that EIAs are of “international” quality, that mitigations are appropriate and are adhered to, and that they are coupled with enforcement via fines or capital withholding. Obtaining a within-mine EIA framework of international standard is thus the immediate key challenge.

However, even international-standard EIA processes usually ignore or underestimate the multitude of secondary effects of mine development, especially those on broader development patterns (Laurance 2008; Weng et al. 2013). Mining companies are reluctant to engage in debate on their off-site impacts.

Companies argue that their liability ends at the mine gates and endures only for the lifetime of the mine. They argue that gov-ernments have the role of addressing mac-ro-level environmental, economic and social impacts. However, in many African countries the governmental institutions responsible for assessing these external impacts are weak and lack the capacity to deal with negative impacts. Conservation scientists therefore need to engage more effectively with govern-ments and other players so as to expand the

focus of environmental and social safeguards to these broader development impacts.

More generally, there is a need for high-er-level, strategic environmental assessments applied at regional and national levels. In the context of any mining boom, piecemeal EIAs conducted on a per-mine basis are unlikely to capture the cumulative regional environ-mental effects, nor mitigate them (Laurance 2008). We advocate strategic assessments within the context of national and regional development processes, encompassing con-servation targets but also goals for mining, transport, employment, and agriculture.

There is need for the development of offset mechanisms, perhaps by paying into a biodi-versity land bank, such as a national protect-ed-area trust fund, that protects key habitats close to the mine or similar habitat elsewhere, or by paying to help safeguard existing pro-tected areas that are currently suffering from encroachment. Such offset payments would need to be deposits made early on in the mine-development process as a condition of a license. Understanding the ratio between damage caused by mining and the level of payments made requires urgent attention.

The speed and scale of this development means that environmental considerations are in danger of being marginalized or even

totally ignored, and thus that some of Afri-ca’s most valuable biological real estate, in-cluding the rainforests of central Africa, is in grave danger. At present, attention is focused on the local impacts of mine-site operations, but far greater threats and potential conser-vation opportunities revolve around infra-structure expansion, bushmeat and wildlife trade, human migration, governance, and macro-economic changes associated with mining development. Mining is undoubted-ly going to alter the face of Africa over the coming decades.

Opportunities for sustainable development, poverty alleviation, and improved environ-mental protection exist, but such positive outcomes will rarely be achieved under cur-rent conditions of corruption and weak gov-ernance. Business-as-usual practice carries with it a danger that explosive mining devel-opment could accelerate the loss of Africa’s forests and natural areas with consequent losses of biodiversity.


To guard against being cheated when buying a stand, it is advisable to involve lawyers in the transaction. Though this

is an additional expense beyond the reach of many, a person intending to own a house in an urban area has to go through a lot of hassles, some of which require patience, endurance and resilience.Before going into the market, ask yourself whether you want to buy a property that has title deeds or not and whether you want to buy it in a high or low-density suburb.

You can also opt to be on the council housing waiting list to buy a stand from a local authority, and this has to be renewed yearly. Though it can be an extremely long wait due to the number of those on the list.

Title deeds are also important to have once you buy land. Reasons why a property will not be having title deeds vary. It may be that the devel-oper has not complied with all the local authori-ty planning requirements such as putting up cul-verts, roads, and water and sewer reticulation.Sometimes a seller would not have applied for title deeds (normally the case in high-density areas).The seller might also be owing the local authority money.

Another hurdle is dealing with a cessation.

This refers to a transfer of rights and obligations

in a property from a seller to a buyer when the property being sold has no title deeds. It is a legal way of changing ownership practiced by many developers and local authorities in Zimbabwe.

Local authorities are readily available to offer advice on how to go about the process. If the property being sold is vacant, the seller has to develop it first.It is important not to buy an un-serviced piece of land regardless of how cheap they may appear to be.

Buying your own piece of land is better than buying an already built house because it gives the owner total control over every aspect of a house, from the foundation to the flooring and the views. While one takes a little more risk when building their home they end up with a lot more independence. It is also important to take note of regulations that exist when construction such as wetlands restrictions to energy-efficient building standards, all of which add to the cost of doing it from scratch. When you find property you like, thoroughly in-spect it in person by getting a survey of the land from the seller and walking the entire property. That will give you a sense of the lot’s suitabili-ty for building—say, whether trees will need to be cleared or hills graded, or whether you’re far enough off the beaten path that you’ll need to

dig a well, install a septic tank, or create new power, phone, and cable hook-ups. Here are the tips on buying a residential lot or land:

• Before you buy, find out if there is water and sewer connections on the lot or land.• If sewer hook-ups are not available, make your offer to buy land contingent on the ability to install a septic system rated for the number of rooms you require.• Find out if other contingen cies are advisable

for land purchases. For in

Sstance, in some areas water rights do not convey with land and that means you could not dig a well.• Make sure power and phone service as well as general amenities are available in the area.• If the land you wish to buy is not accessible by a public road, verify that a road maintenance agreement is in place. This document states that everyone on the road agrees to help with its upkeep.• There should be a deeded right-of-way in place for land not accessible by a public road. The deed should give you and future owners the legal right to access the land.• Check the property’s deed restrictions to make sure the type of residence you plan to build is allowed. For instance, some areas do not allow manufactured housing.• If the lot is in a development, ask for a copy of the restrictive covenants. That’s where you’ll find restrictions for minimum house size, whether other structures are al lowed, and other limitations.• Ask the city or county if zoning changes are anticipated for the area, or if there’s a plan to build new roads or widen existing roads.• If there are environmental hazards on the land, such as old buried oil or gas tanks, decide if you are willing to remove them, or if you will ask the seller to take care of re moval and clean up.• Decide if you want a new boundary survey. Surveys are standard in some areas, but rarely required in others. They’re nearly always a good idea.• If you plan to build a home soon talk to lenders about construction loans. • Don’t be turned off by the terms ‘development,’ and ‘subdivision.’ If you’re from a city, you might associate both words with small lots and side-by-side homes. In rural areas, a subdivision lot might be 10+ acres in size.• Restrictive covenants help protect home values by requiring structures to conform to specific standards. Read them carefully so you know exactly what is and is not allowed.• Study the deed to discover if other persons or tracts of land have been granted easements to use your land in any way.

How to select

A residential

Stand in urban areas


Personnel Development

Almost in all probabilities; training is central to improving both produc-tivity and the wellbeing of people in

any industry. Training is necessary not only to ensure that everybody is on the same page; but also to ensure that productivity is realized and work is finished on time and on budget.

It should not be considered as something pe-ripheral to the companies’ policies but should be interwoven within the fabrics of the whole company’s vision and integrated effectively into the organization’s developmental strat-egies.

This article intends to highlight some im-portant facts to consider. Training is some-thing that requires more than just lip service. More than ever, companies need to maximize training their human capital by providing the right skills at the right time for the right people. Unless the why; when and how part of the work has been clearly defined; there is no guarantee of effective production from workers. Under recent modern conditions we now have the most advanced machinery and the workman is required to continually keep abreast with the fast changing trends.

SIMPLICITYIn approaching this multifaceted subject, we should appreciate that people are always at their best when they do what they know the most. The object of the training customs does not make everything artificially easy; on the contrary; there is a price tag; but it’s not much; compared to the gastric consequence of having a bunch of untrained people to do work that they do not understand. Almost in every company many people; even those well trained will not start with all the know how advantages required on the job.

A proper training will help not only to de-velop proper knowledge of the current needs of the job requirements, but also the future needs as technologies, markets, the environ-ment and development strategies change.

PLAN AND SET IT UPMost of the difficulties in proper implementa-tion are due to lack of a proper or unrealistic planning. Training should be by design not

by chance. Do not wait until the repercus-sions are too high before putting action to it.It is important therefore that training policies, programmes and strategies are put in place. In short, it should always relate to the objec-tives of the business at large.

THE PLACE OF PRODUCTIVITYA company’s dignity is tied to its productiv-ity. Productivity brings colour and respect to any organization. Training should be consid-ered as the principal vehicle for promoting decent work at every level of the work in the industry.

The centrality of skills development to main-taining both productivity and employment growth should not be underestimated; but it had, in the most noticeable cases, been cel-ebrated as a powerful tool for high produc-tivity. Training plays an important catalytic role in the total development of the welfare of both the company and the individual. It provides a clear explanation to productivity, and explains how a coherent training policy serves to fulfill the companies’ developmen-tal goals. The growth of production reduces costs and increases returns on investments; thus providing greater income for business owners and investors. In the longterm, pro-ductivity is the main determinant of income growth.

CONSISTENCYContinuity is one of the secret for all realized dreams. It is wisdom to keep investing in what you know to be an asset that gives you the highest returns. People understand things fairly well they we see them continuously. Training as a continuous activity will estab-lish both a positive statistical and economic significance. Top performing industries not only recognize the importance of their people but also the need to provide the right skills on a consistent basis to enable their people to be more effective and productive.

Best performing companies invest in consis-tent training. People will work smarter not harder. It is not just about technical ability and driving process efficiencies on a consis-tent basis, nor is it just about engaging em-ployees to make them more productive and

to reduce costs; it is about having the best out of everyone and enhancing economic growth.

EVALUATE AND REVIEWThe first and best way of appreciating train-ing is to understand its previous effects. The effects of training cannot be evaluated by mere looking. Although physical observa-tion may be informative, it tells only a little part of the story; and ignores the impact on the trainee’s productivity. The chronological continuity of previous effects must in all ac-counts be recorded; remembered and appre-ciated .Whether to develop or adopt atraining method that best suits your organi-zation. It would be unjust both to the worker and to the company to assume effectiveness of training without anything recorded to show for it. Without proper and careful evalu-ation, lessons cannot be learned, rewards can-not be awarded and hard work can be quickly forgotten.

It should also be remembered that there is no need to initiate changes on training methods for the sake of it. It is important in develop-ing the delivery element of training plan that previous training is reviewed and all findings should be recorded; to measure the effective-ness of its deliveries and decide whether it is the right approach to implement for the orga-nization or change methods where necessary.

High levels of productivity is not a product of wishes. It is product of good planning; training and working! A proper integration of training systems is a sure way of having things done; and having them done well.

The beauty you anticipate in your industry requires that you keep at the facts that makes it work. It is that part of your developmental strategy that all other elements of the business will have to build up to. Train the workers!

Wise ChindondondoHuman Resources and Training [email protected]

IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND MINING INDUSTRY

Construction & Mining Magazine - October - December - 2015

Construction and Mining Magazine

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