Structure and Design Issue 57

ISSUE 57 | 2023 ZIMBABWE’S LEADING INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT MAGAZINE

Delivering the Future of the Built Environment

PUBLISHER

Caast Media Group

MARKETING

Ashley Bangamu

Newton Musara

+263 775 062 088

+263 08644 275 856

ADMINISTRATOR

Tinashe Nyakabau

DESIGN & LAYOUT

Masimba Gamira

Ian Kahale

DISTRIBUTION

Joshua Govati

WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA

Tapiwanashe Jamdura

Nichodimus Anesu Ndagurwa

JOURNALISTS

Michael Nott

Martin Chemhere

Perry Kaande

PHOTOGRAPHY

Fotohaus

CONTRIBUTORS

Gemma Temlett

Achitexture Spatial Design and Bashir Ghumra

Studio 5 Architects

Kristina Egbers

EMAIL

marketing@structureanddesign.co.zw adverts.structureanddesign@gmail.com

www.structureanddesignzim.com

FIND US AT

31 Alexander Rd, Highlands, Harare

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of its content, neither editor nor publisher can be held responsible for any omissions or errors: or for any misfortune, injury, or damages which may arise there-from.

All rights reserved. Copyright 2023

Structure and Design Magazine:

No Part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electric or mechanical, including photocopying or recording.

SPACE OF THE MONTH

11 | An Older Property in Belgravia

MAIN FEATURE

20 | Enterprise Economic Corridor continues to be developed with a new TotalEnergies Service Station

COMMERCIAL PROFILE

31 | Caltex Braford Lubricants renovates its warehouse, in Bulawayo Belmont.

36 | Boutique Shopping Mall Opens in Highlands with outstanding eco-friendly credentials.

INDUSTRIAL PROFILE

44 | Zimtile commissions modern concrete brick manufacturing plant

RESIDENTIAL PROFILE

48 | NMBZ diversifies in to the property market

58 | Wanganui One Townhouses:

A Refreshing Lifestyle Development In Meyrick Park

64 | Van Der Berg Facilities Management (Pvt) Limited: Supplier of choice in the built environment value chain

CONSTRUCTION COUNCILS

69 | ZCIA Successfully Hosts Inaugural Conference In Nyanga

Welcome to our 57th issue filled with ideas, inspiration and information all about the construction industry in Zimbabwe. We’re very proud to be ‘Delivering the Future of the Built Environment’.

Our cover story is an interesting feature about an older property in Belgravia that’s been given a whole new lease on life. It was a residential property that had become a bit run down and neglected but has a new identity and purpose now, while still retaining some of its original character and charm. Renovations were done in two stages with the old parking garage transformed into a smart new booking office for Fastjet. A few years later the original house has become the very elegant head office of a local business enterprise. The renovations for the original house were designed by Architextural Spatial Design and have preserved much of the original charm, inside and out, while becoming very contemporary and functional.

We’ve covered two cluster home developments – Reoville in Marlborough designed by Studio 5 Architects and Wanganui One in Meyrick Park designed by Troika Design Workshop. Both are upmarket developments and are in line with a

general policy that promotes gentrification and densification of some of Harare’s older suburbs.

We’ve featured yet another project designed by Kristina Egbers from studio*k – the new pavilion at the Zimbabwe German Society/Goethe Zentrum Harare. In our previous issue we featured studio*k’s remarkable Rising Star School in Hopley. Both projects have won numerous architectural awards and celebrate the beauty and diversity of our locally produced bricks.

In our industrial section we’ve looked at the renovations to Caltex Braford’s offices and retail outlet in Bulawayo, designed by Gemma Temlett from Architexture Spatial Design. Temlett also designed the Harare branch of Caltex Braford which we have featured in a previous issue. The new design is functional and enhances Caltex Braford corporate identity.

On the corporate front we’ve reported on the Zimbabwe Construction Industry Association inaugural dinner and award ceremony as well as the Zimbabwe Institute of Engineers annual awards ceremony. Both venerable institutions are a vital part of the construction industry in Zimbabwe and the awards are a great way to honour and

recognise our best practitioners.

We’ve included two commercial projects in Harare – although they’re very different but in the same development zone. There’s the boutique shopping mall and restaurant at 68 Ridgeway which has serious eco- credentials, and the new TotalEnergies Service station, shopping mall and coffee shop on the corner of Ridgeway and ED Mnangagwa Road. Very different but equally interesting. Apart from our other articles we’ve introduced a new section of small updates on both regional and international news. We have an obituary for Paulo Portoghese – world renowned architect and academic, as well as snippets about ‘7-star Hotels’. Did you know there was such a thing?

There’s all this and so much more, so we hope you enjoy the information, inspiration and ideas our team has put together for you.

Hope you enjoy!

All Structure & Design content, and much more is available online on our website and ISSUU but follow us at SDMagzim www.structureanddesignzim.com issuu.com/structuredesign

Structure&Design Team

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AN EXPERIENCE LIKE NEVER BEFORE!

An Older Property

Text by Michael Nott

Photos by Fotohaus

Plans courtesy of Achitexture Spatial Design and Bashir Ghumra

The property at 9 Phillips Avenue had been derelict and neglected for several years when it was acquired by Mistras Properties in 2015. It was an older double storey residence, typical of the Belgravia area, with an impressive Dutch gable at the front facing on to Sam Nujoma Street (Second Street). Although it’s in a prime position it was badly in need of some attention

to bring the grand old home back to life.

There was the main house as well as extensive other structures on the property set in fairly generous grounds with a well-established garden with palms and other established trees. On one side there was a big double garage with a workshop and storeroom as well as a row of accommodation for domestic

workers – although all the structures were quite run down.

The first stage of the renovations started in 2014, converting and extending the old garage space and the domestic accommodation into offices. The two car garage and workshop became the Harare ticketing office for Fastjet. The exterior walls of the garage, workshop and storeroom were retained but all the interior walls were removed to open up the space. The wall height was raised to create a higher ceiling and a new pitched Chromadek roof installed. There’s a small parapet wall across the top of the structure so the roof is hidden. The parapet wall also connects the new office space to the original house. In front large aluminium and glass doors were fitted to allow light into the interior and provide easy access for customers.

As the glass frontage is west facing a small portico, painted in Fastjet’s signature yellow, shelters the interior from the afternoon sun.

Inside a new ceiling and new floor tiles were fitted. The front open section has white tiles and silver aluminium seating and, of course, Fastjet’s signature yellow wall. There’s a small step up to the long counter which runs the full width of the space. The raised stepped up platform has black tiles to make the step very obvious and to add a bit of interest to the interior. The stepped floor was part of the existing structure.

The interior was specifically designed to provide a quick turnaround time for customers so there aren’t stuffy booths to sit down and

discuss complex itineraries – most of the routes are simple point-to-point tickets.

Behind the counter the original existing space has been extended slightly to accommodate offices, ablutions and a small staff kitchenette. In front of the ticketing office there’s a paved parking area for customers, and a palisade fence on to Second Street. Large, bright signage makes the offices easily visible from the street. A portion of the old garden has been kept with elegant, tall palm trees which provide welcome shade from the afternoon sun. At the end of the paved area is a remarkable piece of artwork – a handmade mural set on to the boundary wall with scenes depicting some of Fastjet’s past and current destinations – Mozambique, Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The mosaic was made from thousands of pieces of ceramic

tile, each hand cut and carefully placed. It was created by Lee Sanderson’s team from Burnt Earth and took almost two years to complete!

At the same time as the renovations for Fastjet were done the domestic quarters were renovated and extended to create new offices for TAAG Angola Airlines and SVS Visa Services. Again the roof was raised, new floors and ceilings fitted and new aluminium and glass fronts installed.

Work on the renovations and extensions started in 2014 and the Fastjet office officially opened in 2016.

The renovations were designed by Bashir Ghumra in conjunction with input from Fastjet’s commercial team.

In the meantime, the adjoining original house stood empty and neglected (and a little sad) for a number of years, until attention was focused on updating the place in 2021. It has now become the sleek and sophisticated head office for a national retail company.

The Operations Manager for the retail company, consulted with local architect Bruce Rowlands and his assistant Garikayi Mushambi from Architexture Spatial Design, to come up with some solutions. The renovations needed to maintain some of the historical character of the house, as well as being practical and attractive inside and out.

The answer was to turn the house around so that the main entrance would now be on the east side opposite the original front façade which previously faced on to Second Street. The new offices would have their own private driveway access from Phillips Avenue, totally distinct from the Fastjet entrance. At the old front – now the back - the charming Dutch gable would be retained, as well as the three windows below it, to preserve the historic personality of the house. The old front door would be closed in and replaced by a single fitted glass pane to allow light in to the interior.

The back of the house had at some stage been renovated, rather unsympathetically, with modern aluminium doors on either side of the original bay window/back door. The bay window was removed and a new front entrance created by squaring off the space, bringing the main entrance forward and creating a portico above it. All the old windows on the east side were rationalised and enlarged and new aluminium frames fitted, as well as folding aluminium doors leading to the boardroom. On the west side openings were kept quite small to shelter the interior from the afternoon sun and help deaden the traffic noise from the busy street. The glazing is sound absorbing and sun tinted. Aluminium work was supplied by Pesid Designs.

A wrap around verandah was added on three sides and the verandah floor slab extended. The verandah provides an outdoor seating area adjacent to the boardroom as well allowing access to the boardroom and kitchen without the need for interior passageways. Graham Westhoff from Shepperton Investments provided the tongue and groove ceiling on the verandah as well as most of the interior finishes. The tiled roof was replaced with a Chromadek roof that follows the pitch of the original

Supplier’s List

Burnt Earth House Of Tiles

Union Hardware

Prime World

Claude Neon

Pesid Designs

Africa Steel

Milano

Only Italian Safeguard

King Kold

structure and also ties in with the verandah roof.

On the ground floor there’s the main entrance and reception area with large, open plan offices on either side. The offices can each accommodate six work stations and both have big windows for natural light and air circulation. Cemcrete floors in the offices provide a clean, modern, low maintenance finish. The boardroom space to the right of the entrance was extended, partly to accommodate the upstairs balcony.

Behind the reception area, in a separate vestibule, is the staircase leading up to the first floor. The staircase is still in the original position although it has new treads and risers and a

new steel and glass balustrade – also supplied by Pesid Designs. A striking and very modern chandelier hangs above the stairwell giving a very clean, contemporary look to the old space. At the top of the stairs is small seating area with a round table where staff and visitors can have an informal meeting and enjoy a coffee from the coffee bar. The kitchenette/coffee bar was installed by Kitchen Krazy.

To the left of the upstairs foyer is the main office which has its own fully fitted, private bathroom. It has a generous balcony, sitting directly above the boardroom, overlooking the garden and there’s even an outdoor gym area. There’s surprisingly very little traffic noise and the extensive view of the garden provides a calm and relaxing working space.

Spacework assisted with the initial planning of the electrical layout, the interior space layout and the selection of the furniture and finishes to help create a cohesive, comfortable and sophisticated overall look and feel.

The garden at the back of the original house had been very neglected but it’s now an important part of the overall design. Graham Williams and Associates have created a beautiful garden in a fairly constrained space as well as managing to include a generous paved driveway, parking area and a paved path to the main entrance. A rectangular, raised water feature centres the garden and echoes the rather formal, geometric shape of the house. He’s also used clever planting options to help screen the garden from the Fastjet driveway, so it’s now a tranquil and relaxing space that makes an impressive entrance for visitors.

To the right of the foyer is the office of the Operations Manager, a second office, a restroom and a storeroom. Most of the artwork on the first floor is from First Floor Gallery.

It’s great to see that an elegant old house and the outbuildings have been respectfully

house and garden are cleared to make way for new, sometimes soulless, buildings which will

The whole complex has both council and borehole water and there’s an extensive solar

Enterprise Economic Corridor continues to be developed with a new TotalEnergies Service Station

-text by Michael Nott -photos

Council has created seven new economic development corridors within Harare to support their vision of turning Harare into a city with world class status by 2025 and assist Government’s programme to create a national middle-class economy by 2030. The seven zones are Enterprise Road (now ED Mnangagwa Road), Second Street, Avondale (now Sam Nujomo Street), Samora Machel Avenue East-West, Mukuvisi, Harare-CAZ Aerotropolis Export Processing Zone and

Venturesburg Export Processing Zone. The Enterprise Road corridor has already seen significant development with many formerly residential properties being converted to office or retail spaces. Most noteworthy perhaps is the recently opened Highland Park Shopping Mall on the corner of Arcturus Road. Further along ED Mnangagwa Road, on the corner of Ridgeway North, TotalEnergies has just completed their new state of the art service station and shopping mall.

It’s an unmissable and imposing double storey structure in yellow/ochre bricks, and glass in black aluminium frames, roughly divided into two sections. One section is comprised of Nando’s Drive Through, closest to Ridgeway, and adjoining the main TotalEnergies forecourt. Nando’s Drive Through is great for good food on the go, but there’s also the option for relaxed indoor seating to enjoy your meal in comfort.

by Fotohaus

Across the forecourt is a second, complementary, double storey structure which houses TotalEnergies signature Café BonJour and convenience store, an upmarket coffee shop and a variety of selected retail outlets and service providers.

Apart from Café Bonjour (which includes an outlet for Ravine Purified Water) other tenants in the shopping mall block include Jodan Electronics for phones, laptops and

related accessories, Mel’s Rush for shoes, bags and accessories, Hiltons Pharmacy, the Apple Shop – accredited Apple distributors, Nicolexis Precious Collections – for jewellery, accessories and gifts, Home This and That –for décor accessories and home essentials, Original Marines for children’s wear, Toy Verse, Sunglass Shack, Donini Dry Cleaners and Mukamo for footwear and fashion accessories.

There’s The Ridge Café for great coffee

and cakes and light meals in an elegant and trendy setting – they have indoor and outdoor seating. There’s even the Shield Car Wash so you can get your car cleaned inside and out while you enjoy a meal or do your shopping. The shopping mall has clean, modern restrooms for customers’ convenience. A thoughtful and unique feature of the mall is a dedicated and tranquil Prayer Room for devotees.

The site on the corner of ED Mnangagwa and Ridgeway is prime commercial real estate especially in light of the rezoning for economic development. There was an old house on the site which didn’t have much architectural merit so it was demolished before construction could begin. Work started on the project in September 2021 and the service centre opened in April this year.

The service station and shopping mall was designed by local architectural firm Pearce, McComish, Tarabuku with C Kunaka Consulting Engineers t/a Dickie and Kunaka as the lead engineers and Makkie Construction as the main contractors. TotalEnergies has a very detailed list of specifications for all their service stations internationally which have to be strictly adhered to for health and safety reasons as well as to enhance their brand image. Underground storage tanks, pumps and drainage are all required to meet international standards. In addition, local regulatory body ZERA has a stringent checklist which must also be adhered to and approved before a marketing license is issued and all service stations are required to undergo regular safety checks. The stipulations include health and safety regulations as well as specifications for environmental protection.

All these complex and highly technical factors had to be incorporated in the final design and approved by various regulatory bodies. In addition, the service station and the shopping mall needed to look appealing to attract clients and to have convenient and hassle free traffic circulation for customers. There also had to be sufficient parking space for shoppers at the mall and diners at the restaurants.

The architectural design of the service centre incorporates a number of interesting design details. The forecourt has a high translucent roof as opposed to the usual solid roofs of other service stations which have an upper roof and a kind of ceiling underneath that incorporates the lighting. It looks ultramodern and very distinctive – different to most other service stations in Zimbabwe.

The custom made forecourt roof was supplied and installed by Brown Engineering. TotalEnergies also specifies that there are stone bollards protecting the pumps from accidental collisions from motorists. The architects came up with a unique alternative to meet the requirements. The bollards are made from fibreglass shells cast from a real stone bollard and filled with concrete. They are an innovative, functional and very durable, maintenance free solution. Another first for TotalEnergies and for the architects – something that can easily be replicated for future service centres.

Supplier’s List

James McCormish – Architect

Tapiwa Kunaka – Engineer

Beta Bricks

PPC

Electrosales

Ultraboards

Essar Steel

Architectural Aluminium

Philginest Enterprises

Emerald Seedlings

Zara Landscape

Union Hardware

CAAPS

Prime World

Scribante

Four Ways

Pomona Quarries

Nations Hadware

Squad Security

Pomona Fencing

Steel Fabricators

Vaka Bricks

Homestyle Bricks

Milano

Lucky Brands

Ali Air

ZOL

Brown Engineering

Driptech

to the traffic flow problem was to have access from both Ridgeway and ED Mnangagwa. Ridgeway provides access to the drive through as well as to the forecourt and the rest of the complex.

ED Mnangagwa Road has an entrance and exit route for the service station and the shopping mall. The developers also solved the problem of easing traffic flow by installing traffic lights at the busy junction of ED Mnangagwa and Ridgeway. The traffic lights were requested by City of Harare after C. Kunaka Consulting Engineers had submitted a traffic circulation proposal for the Enterprise-Ridgeway North intersection. It’s a great relief for motorists on the two increasingly busy thoroughfares.

Globally TotalEnergies is moving into developing the supply of renewable and alternative energy sources to diversify from the world’s dependence on fossil fuels. This is reflected in the name change from Total to TotalEnergies to reflect the fact that they’re becoming a ‘multi-energy’ company.

few petroleum firms committed to reducing their carbon footprint in line with current concerns around the climate emergency. The service station, the shopping mall and the traffic lights are all supported by a sophisticated solar set up to help reduce their carbon emissions and gradually move towards a greener future. TotalEnergies has already installed or retrofitted solar power solutions to serve a number of their new or established service centres across Zimbabwe. In developing countries many TotalEnergies service centres include facilities for recharging electric vehicles although this trend is slower to catch on in Zimbabwe – there are far fewer electric vehicles in Zimbabwe so the demand is still very low.

TotalEnergies has a long history in Zimbabwe dating back to the 1960s when they established their first service stations in what was then Rhodesia. In 2021 the international company rebranded to TotalEnergies to emphasise the company’s commitment to a new

renewable energy sources with lower emissions and a more environmentally conscious future. TotalEnergies has around 100 outlets across all areas of Zimbabwe. The new development at Ridgeway offers a template for future service station designs. It’s an efficient, aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly concept.

a one stop, convenient, integrated venue for your vehicle and for you. You can get something good to eat or drink, do your shopping, visit the restrooms and even relax in the prayer room. Incidentally, TotalEnergies also has a policy to support and sponsor local sports and has several on-going community outreach programmes.

What more could you ask for?

Caltex Braford Lubricants renovates its warehouse, in Bulawayo Belmont.

Caltex Braford Lubricants is a division of Braford Investments (Pvt) Limited, a Zimbabwean company that was incorporated in January 2003. The division is the official distributor of Caltex branded lubricants in Zimbabwe for Astron Energy (Pty) Ltd. Caltex Braford Lubricants is headquartered in Msasa, Harare, and operates two warehouses one in Msasa, Harare, and another in Belmont, Bulawayo.

The Bulawayo warehouse is situated at 97 Plumtree Road, in the industrial area of Belmont. The road is a convenient link to Botswana and the southern and western areas of Zimbabwe. Caltex Braford Lubricants bought the Bulawayo premises in 2010 and have been operating from there ever since. It’s a good location for business but the structure was not ideal for operations as it had previously been

a garment factory and the available space was quite restricted particularly, the ceiling height in the warehouse area was only 2.1 m so there was not much space to stack pallets of products on top of each other. Caltex Braford Lubricants also wanted to make their retail outlet more visible and improve their corporate image in line with the renovations at their Harare branch.

Work on the renovations started in November 2022 and the new premises were officially reopened on the 28th of March 2023. During the renovations, the team moved to temporary premises located at 2 Wallesey Road in Belmont. Most of the key service providers who worked on the Harare branch renovations were also involved in the Bulawayo renovations. Gemma Temlett from Architecture Spatial Design drew up the plans for the renovations and extensions

and SuperStructures supplied and fitted the new warehouse. Signage and branding were supplied and fitted by Claude Neon and the new aluminum door and window frames were supplied by Almin Metal Industries, while Garage Doors supplied the custom-made roller shutters. Most of the brickwork and construction was done by a Bulawayo-based firm Big Five Renovations. Mr. George Mudanga, Managing Director of Caltex Braford, took on the role of contract manager.

The whole roof of the existing structure was removed and the walls were built up to create a lot more vertical space, including a mezzanine level in the office section. A new wall plate/ring beam was constructed to support the steel trusses for the new Chromadek roof.

-text by Michael Nott

-photos by Fotohaus -plans by Gemma Temlett

The warehouse space was enlarged considerably so it’s now around 400 square metres and the usable roof height is 5.7 metres which allow three pallets to be stacked vertically on top of each other. The steel roof trusses have been positioned for maximum efficiency for racking and efficient forklift circulation. The Chromadek roof has Alububble insulation, a series of translucent sheets for natural light, and additional LED lights for extra lighting as needed. The Bulawayo

warehouse is now almost the same size as the warehouse in Harare!

Three large roller shutter doors have been installed to make deliveries and dispatch more convenient. Horizontal steel slats across the windows on the front façade add to the security and in addition give the frontage a more modern, industrial look. Sections of the wall above the main entrance have been painted in Caltex

Braford’s signature signal red while the rest of the structure is crisp white plastered brickwork with grey Chromadek cladding above the brick and running over onto the roof.

In the office section, there’s the sales desk, two large offices, ablutions, and a small kitchenette for the staff on the ground floor. There’s a steel staircase to access the mezzanine which contains additional office space and a boardroom.

Supplier’s List

Big Five Renovations

Pump & Steel Supplies

Macdonald Bricks

Neddicky Industries

Davis Granite

TD Transport

Early Ashes

Hardware

Buy & Build

Hardware

Almin Metal Industries

Bathroom

Boutique

Fleark Hardware

Hygienic Services

PM Tiling Specialists

CH Naake

Puma Electricals

Halsted Brothers

Electrosales

Main World Masters Hardware

Allied Ware Hub

Hardware

Dropmark

Supplies

Driptech

The floors on the ground floor are tiled for easy maintenance while upstairs the floors are wooden tiles in a parquet design. The offices have suspended ceilings to keep them cool in summer and warmer in winter, so they’re always comfortable. Mwenje Solar have supplied a solar power system for the offices so electricity cuts are no longer a problem.

On the outside of the premises, Bulawayo-based firm Neddicky Industries supplied load-bearing pavers to accommodate bigger and heavier

vehicles and for customer parking. Across Plumtree Road, Caltex Braford cleared additional space for customer parking for trucks ¾ inch gravel was also put down to keep the area looking neat and not too muddy or dusty – depending on the season.

Caltex Braford Lubricant’s main customers include walk-in customers who just need a small order as well as retailers in the hardware and motor industries, transport operators, the mining industry, the construction industry, the

manufacturing sector, and the railway sector. The Bulawayo branch services the entire southern part of the country as well as the western side up to Victoria Falls and Hwange.

Caltex Braford Lubricants’ product range includes: Passenger Vehicle Engine Oils, Heavy Duty Diesel Engine Oils, Gear Oils, coolants Railroad oils; Specialty, Heavy Duty Transmission Fluid; General Industrial & Circulating Oil; Industrial Gear oils; Hydraulic oils and greases.

Caltex Braford has won several awards over the years beating other distributors in the SADC region - some of the awards are:

• Highest Sales in Volume Growth in 2013

• 1st Place Highest Overall Sales Volume in 2014

• Highest Delo Premium Volume 2015

• Highest Delo Premium Volume 2016

• Top Distributor of the Year 2022

• Achieving 3 Million Litres Volume in 2022

For more information about their products including technical specifications and advice please visit www.braford.co.zw

Bulawayo Warehouse 97 Plumtree Road, Belmont. Call: +263-0292-475152 Mobile: +263 715 316 372

Boutique Shopping Mall

Opens in Highlands with outstanding eco-friendly credentials.

-text by Michael Nott -photos by Fotohaus -plans courtesy of the owners

The upmarket shopping complex at 68 Ridgeway North in Highlands, Harare recently opened after the area was rezoned from residential use to allow for mixed use developments.

The property originally belonged to the Owen-Graham family until it was bought by Charles and Frances Pickering over two decades ago in 2000. There was an old English country cottage styled building in the one corner of the property but the rest of the one-acre stand was undeveloped apart from a forest of cyprus and saligna trees. The cottage had apparently been originally built over 100 years ago as an art studio for Mrs Prudence Owen-Graham, hence the low windows to let in indirect light when she was painting. Over the years it’s been used as a residence as well as for offices.

When the Pickerings decided to develop the property they were determined to keep the old house intact. With the help from planning expert Margaret Haslett the Pickerings came up with a scheme to keep the original house and transform it into a restaurant, as well as to develop a number of retail outlets set off to one side for the convenience of residents in the surrounding suburbs of Highlands, Borrowdale and Ballantyne Park. There were already a number of other mixed use properties in the area and more are being developed in the area making it increasingly more commercial and attractive for investors. Right from the start the owners wanted to provide something different for tenants and shoppers. They wanted there to be an emphasis on sustainability and greener energy and a more environmentally friendly project. The development functions totally off grid utilising an advanced solar power micro-grid set up and smart energy use. The sophisticated system was designed and installed by local companies Innotech Solar and NeedEnergy.

There are also intelligent smart water meters, a borehole, 60,000 litre water storage and the provision to install rain water harvesting in the near future.

The hair salon and restaurant both have been fitted with heat pumps to provide economic hot water.

There are a total of 11 carefully selected tenants – excluding the restaurant – in various sized shops. Among the tenants there’s Cutting Edge Hair Studio, Aesthetic Solutions Health and Beauty Spa, the exclusive Faye Marsh Jewellers, and a number of clothing shops.

There’s Sue’s Bakery and Delicatessen (they have their own on-site bakery) and there’s Elements Real Coffee in a sort of pop up caravan in the parking area. For exclusive home décor and accessories, there’s Blinds and Designs and Nguni and Company for beautiful Zimbabwean and African flavoured décor, ceramics and gifts.

Most of the complex is single storey with expansive glass shop fronts and extra high roofs to create more interior space. The interior ceilings are 3.6 metres high so the volumes feel generous. There’s a small double storey section that has shops on the ground floor and a multifunctional open space above that can be used as a conference or meeting room or for hosting events.

Additional buildings include a security guard house at the main entrance, accommodation for the caretaker and a dedicated server room, yet to be commissioned.

The project was planned by a local design studio with input from the Pickerings as well as various development partners from Europe and Australia.

Supplier’s List

Mirko Tucakov - Architect

Godffrey – Engineer

Skyline Project Management

Josmuch Investments (Pvt) Ltd

Grapnote

Beta Bricks

Union Hardware

Pomona Quarries

Makanaka Fire Systems

Construction took around 10 months with most shops opening at the end of last year or early this year. The designer has included vertical green walls, set in organically shaped hexagonal bed, which will in time be covered with creepers, in keeping with the eco-friendly ethos of the complex. There’s a small section of green lawn across the shop fronts and a row of mature palm trees. The palms were relocated from the property and replanted at the Pickerings’ house to await their final destination at the complex. Wherever possible existing trees were retained. The landscaping was done by Frances Pickering, Caroline Kapinenga and Di Bentley. There’s paved parking in front for shoppers and additional parking at the back for the tenants.

The original cottage has now become an English styled gastro pub restaurant with seating and a bar inside and additional seating in the front pub garden. It goes by the rather quirky name ‘The Bishop’s Mistress’ and is run by Chef Dean Jones. Chef Dean has had loads of experience at upmarket restaurants in South Africa as well as being the executive chef for Wild Horizons in Victoria Falls.

The place has been elegantly decorated inside and oozes warmth, charm and character. Little was done structurally to the house but a new, modern kitchen was added at the back that’s been designed to fit in with the original structure.

The original toilets could only be accessed from outside so they’ve been turned around so that there is now interior access. What was previously used as an office has now become the well-stocked, cosy bar.

The restaurant gets very busy most days so it’s best to book on 0775 520 874.

Years Ahead In Delivering Quality Products and Exceptional Service

80mm Interlocking

60mm Holland Pavers

60mm Interlocking Quarry Bricks

Zimtile commissions modern concrete brick manufacturing plant

THE QUALITY AND

OF

She said this at the commissioning of the Zimtile brick manufacturing plant in Epworth on the 9th of June.

“Government has taken a three-pronged approach to enhance the competitiveness of local products both in the domestic and international market through increased production and productivity, regulation of quality as well as standardisation and creation of a favourable business environment,” she said.

The newly commissioned brick manufacturing plant has a daily capacity of up to 500 000 bricks or pavers. This adds to the existing daily capacity of 200 000 bricks at other production centres in Southerton (Harare), Bulawayo and Masvingo.

The nation’s goal of building 250 000 housing units by 2025 was recently revised upwards to one million structures, which is an opportunity for diverse stakeholders in the built environment sector.

“It is companies that will position themselves in distinctive capabilities and productivity that will seize the opportunities,” the deputy minister added.

She urged participants in the construction and infrastructural development value chain to work towards delivering new and differentiated solutions.

Zimtile is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PG Industries Zimbabwe and is the leading manufacturer and supplier of bricks, pavers and roof tiles.

PG Chief Operations Officer, Innocent Taru, highlighted that the company’s International Standards Organisation (ISO) certification guarantees that the end user acquires a worldclass product.

“Our customers and business partners can trust our products for quality, safety, durability and standardisation,” he stated.

The plant runs two fully automated lines. They run independently or simultaneously either producing bricks or pavers. The COO confided that “the concrete brick plant confirms adoption of digitisation of the manufacturing sector as we march into the Fourth Industrial Revolution characterised by human-machine interaction, automation and improvements in robotics.”

Text by Perry Kaande

Photos by Fotohaus

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS, MARIAN CHOMBO, SAYS THE GOVERNMENT HAS SET IN MOTION THE NATIONAL QUALITY POLICY WHICH AIMS TO UPSCALE

STANDARDS

ZIMBABWEAN PRODUCTS IN LINE WITH INTERNATIONAL BENCHMARKS

He also noted that the combined production capacity demonstrates Zimtile’s commitment to support the Government, private sector and individuals efforts to ensure that every citizen owns a house by 2030 in line with the Government’s Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy 1.

In an aside with Structure and Design Magazine on the sidelines of the ceremony, the plant’s Operations Manager, Gerald Madzvamuse related that they procure the requisite aggregates within the plant’s vicinity hence the manufacturing process is cost efficient and the final product is price competitive.

He also indicated that despite the recurrent power outages, there is a power plant on-site that ensures production continues without a hitch. He had reassuring words for potential customers, pointing out that “the only time you wait is when your truck is being loaded.”

At present the brick manufacturer has a small fleet for deliveries, but has logistics partners to ensure that customers receive their products timeously.

Mr Madzvamuse noted that the company is cognisant of the community it operates in. The 35-member staff complement consists of residents of Epworth and constitutes a notable gender balance

The Operations Manager hinted that as operations expand, there is scope for recruitment. As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility activities, PG has donated building materials to various worthy causes.

Riding on the back of its commitment to ‘Quality Assurance’, Zimtile exports products

into Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mozambique, Malawi as well as Botswana.

The company indicates that it intends to contribute significantly to the upgrading of property values for both individual and commercial developers through the provision of quality roofing and building materials.

NMBZ diversifies in to the property market

Banking giant NMBZ has recently diversified in to the local property market. Up until now the NMBZ Holdings had just one subsidiary – NMB Bank. Under the guidance of Group CEO Mr Gerald Gore, NMB has ventured into real estate, as well as a portfolio of cutting-edge technology subsidiaries specialising in AI, data analytics, blockchain technology, cloud computing and cybersecurity. This will benefit its existing client base and allow the NMBZ Holdings Group to compete with its peers as well as increasing shareholder value. The property development company will be a subsidiary of NMBZ Holdings, and sister company to NMB Bank. Apart from real estate and housing developments the property subsidiary’s services include property evaluations, facilities and feasibility studies for new projects. NMB Properties will include commercial, industrial and residential endeavours across Zimbabwe.

-text by Michael Nott

-photos by Fotohaus

-plans by Studio 5 Architects

Some of their current projects include St Ives in Chinhoyi (137 medium density stands), Amalinda in Harare (105 high density stands), Brokedale in Bindura (10 two-bedroom core houses) and 2,000 planned high density stands in Nkulumane in Bulawayo among others.

One of their latest developments is the Reoville Estate situated along Adylinn Road in Marlborough, Harare. It’s comprised of 26 luxury cluster homes of 3 or 4 bedrooms, conveniently close to Westgate Shopping Mall and the Harare

CBD. It’s close to both Harare Drive and Lomagundi Road which are major transport routes to and from the city and the surrounding areas. There are also a number of good schools, churches, clinics and other facilities in the area. The suburbs of Marlborough, Westgate, Adylinn and Madokero

are currently enjoying significant property developments in line with a policy to help decongest the City Centre, and it’s close to the proposed New Harare City centred around the new parliament buildings in Mount Hampden.

The project also supports the Zimbabwe National Human Settlements Policy (ZNHSP) to address the shortage of decent and affordable housing options for all the people of Zimbabwe. Government has committed to providing 1 million houses by 2030 through partnerships with the private sector. It’s also in line with government’s policy of densification which will see the development of apartment blocks, cluster homes, town houses, residential estates and the sub-division of previously large low density stands.

In theory densification offers the benefits of efficient and sustainable land use and the best use of resources and services. Speaking at the official launch of the new Reoville

Estate, held on the 5th May, the Honourable Minister of Housing and Social Amenities, Mr Daniel Garwe, praised the role that the private sector is playing in addressing the provision of housing options for Zimbabwe’s citizens. “I would like to appreciate the private sector, particularly the finan¬cial sector, for their participation in providing housing to the people of Zimbabwe,” he said. “In suburbs, towns and cities there are cluster developments by at least one of the financial companies and this is what we call the private sector working with government to ensure that the country is developed by its own citizens. As a ministry, if we are going to be delivering a million houses by 2030, we definitely cannot do it alone and as the government

we appreciate NMB’s efforts on the housing agenda.” NMB has over 5000 housing units being considered for development over the next five years. At the same event NMB group chief executive Gerald Gore commented, “Housing is a basic human need. Once people secure food they want a place to stay that they call their own. So, this is us extending the service to our customers to help them acquire properties, both for their own residential requirements but also for their investment properties. This is really an extension of our financial services. We have the ex¬pertise and we also have the financial capabilities to do these projects. So, it was a natural extension for us that we are offering to our customers.”

Supplier’s List

Alutech

Reoville Estate is situated on a long narrow plot of approximately 500 square metres on what had originally been a smallholding. There was an existing farmhouse-style residence, of little architectural merit, which was demolished. The previous owners had constructed two housing units, near the gate, which were remodelled and renovated to fit with the new design. The existing houses have three bedrooms and two bathrooms while the new housing units have four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The new units have an independent guest suite with a bathroom near the front entrance. There’s the master bedroom which has its own en suite bathroom and it overlooks the patio and the back garden. There are an additional two bedrooms which share a bathroom. All the units have an open plan kitchen, dining area and lounge which also open to the patio. The master bedroom and the lounge have been situated towards the back of the units for privacy and to minimise the noise from the front facing on to the shared driveway.

The 26 units have been laid out symmetrically on either side of the central access drive with landscaped, shared gardens either side. Communal gardens are maintained by the on-site groundsman meaning that there’s little

maintenance or attention required by the householders. Each unit has a small, private backyard ideal for entertaining, relaxing or as a play space for children. There’s also a communal space in the centre of the site where children can play in a safe and secure environment. The central section also has a group of tanks for communal water storage. Water is supplied by the Council but there are also solar powered boreholes to supplement the Council supply. Each unit has its own dedicated parking space and there’s space available for visitors’ parking.

Electricity supply in the area is usually pretty reliable but all the units have solar hot water geysers and there’s provision for individual home owners to install their own solar systems at a future stage. Each unit has its own electricity metre so there’s no confusion about individual usage. Home owners also have the option to install their own internet and DStv or satellite TV systems.

The project was designed by Tapiwa Manditsera from local firm Studio 5 Architects. The design makes the best use of the available space with the units spaced out on moderate grounds with their own private gardens at the back and shared space in front. There are no formal walls or fences between the units – much like the American estate layouts – so the communal space makes the grounds feel bigger and more generous, and there’s a community feel to the whole project. Studio 5 has incorporated high end finishes throughout with granite counters and high end cabinets in the kitchen. The rooms have generous proportions and high ceilings and the bedrooms have upmarket built in cupboards providing ample storage space. The bathrooms have modern, contemporary fittings and tiled floors throughout make for easy maintenance. Manditsera has designed extra-large windows so the interiors are filled with natural light and sliding glass doors open out to the patio and backyard. Tiled roofs, as opposed to

Chromadek sheeting, give the houses a more solid and durable look and feel.

Work on the project started in early 2022 and the official launch was held in May this year, so construction was quite quick. The main contractors were JCBEM Construct and iLanga Construction with Studio 5 taking on the role of project managers for this prestigious development. Low maintenance garden landscaping was supplied by Sue Malloch Brown and there’s an on-site groundsman to take care of the communal spaces. There’s a guarded gate entrance and the property is fully walled all round providing good security for the residents.

To find out more about Reoville Estate and NMB Properties:

Website: www.nmbproperties.co.zw

Email: info@nmbproperties.co.zw

Tel: +263 (242) 8688003347

NEW EASTLEA SHOWROOM FOR JEKESA ELECTRICAL HADRDWARE STORE

With so many players, both large and small, flooding the hardware and electrical products supply market, there is a need to set high sales and service standards and at the same time distinguish your brand. This sets the foundation for success as customers usually align and trust businesses that are going the extra mile to make their shopping experience special.

Jekesa Electrical Hardware Store and Showroom has been known for providing top quality goods and services since it started trading 4 years ago. The recent opening of their new, spacious showroom in Eastlea, Harare, further positions their brand among the most trusted in the market.

Text by Martin Chemhere Images by Fotohaus

They operate from a 280 square metre showroom located at 4 Donald McDonald Drive, Eastlea, Harare. Warm and friendly service is delivered to a clientele that values quality products and distinctive service.

The showroom is a former house that used to accommodate the founder’s family for the past 15 years. It occupies an existing building that was spruced up with minor renovations. The showroom has spacious rooms that enable clients to visualise and browse through lighting solutions of various types. Ample parking space makes is available for small passenger cars and light trucks and customers can enjoy shopping without having to worry about the safety of their vehicles.

A wholly-owned Zimbabwean company operating within the construction industry sector Jekesa Electrical Hardware Store and Showroom is making a bold statement of its intentions to lead in the sourcing and supplying of electrical goods. The company also does consultancy in wiring and lighting, as well as providing renewable energy solutions such as solar power.

The showroom is a former house that used to accommodate the founder’s family for the past 15 years. It occupies an existing building that was spruced up with minor renovations. The showroom has rooms that enable clients to visualise lighting solutions.

“We moved into the new showroom on the 13th of April 2023. This step was beyond being just strategic; it was overdue as the business had outgrown our original space and we needed to move clients to a more luxurious surrounding. There was also the inevitable need to reduce expenses and make the business more sustainable,” said Mrs Charuma, the founder of Jekesa Electrical Hardware Store and Showroom.

The vision of the company is: To become the preferred supplier of high-quality lighting, electrical, and construction hardware solutions as well as create exquisite interior and exterior spaces. This foresight is evident in the over 860 lines of products available. Products categories include bathroom lighting, chandeliers, crystal lights, exterior lights, LED lights, garden lights, and wall lights. Extending this range are down lights, rope and strip lights, panel lights, ceiling lights, track lights, extractor fans, inground lights, bulbs, solar lights and more.

The company represents some of the more reliable international brands including Radiant, Fumagali, Casaluce and Bright Star, sourced from markets as diverse as South Africa, Turkey, Italy, and China.

Registered with the Construction Industry Federation of Zimbabwe (CIFOZ), they have been catering to the domestic market (individuals and corporates) with outstanding service and feedback.

Charuma notes that clients walking into the showroom should expect to experience refreshing and helpful service by knowledgeable staff.

“Our products are of good quality and our pricing is reasonable. We are also helpful and will tailor make our service to meet or surpass customers’ expectations,” said Charuma when asked why customers should patronise Jekesa Electrical Hardware Store and Showroom.

In the next 5 to 10 years the company expects to have more branches and additional products so that it can be closer to customers throughout the country.

WANGANUI ONE TOWNHOUSES:

A REFRESHING LIFESTYLE DEVELOPMENT IN MEYRICK PARK

Text by Martin Chemhere

Images by Fotohaus

ON THE 2ND OF JUNE HARARE’S NEWEST, HIGHEND TOWNHOUSES, KNOWN AS WANGANUI ONE, WERE OFFICIALLY HANDED OVER FROM TROIKA DESIGN WORKSHOP (TDW) AND TURNBURY PROPERTY DEVELOPERS TO THE INVESTORS STANBIC BANK. THE DEVELOPMENT SEES FURTHER GENTRIFICATION OF THE SUBURB OF MEYRICK PARK, SURROUNDED BY LOCALITIES SUCH AS HAIG PARK, COTSWOLD HILLS, SAINT ANDREWS PARK, MONAVALE, STRATHAVEN AND MILTON PARK.

Supplier’s List

C Kunaka Consulting – Engineers

Turnbury Construction – Main

Cntractor

Union Hardware

Halsteds Brothers

Electrosales

Longden

Primador PG SA

Scotch Shopfitters

Orange Turf

Obrim Bricks

Absolute Paints

CTM & Bathroom Fusion

Buffet Contracting

Four Ways Concrete

RPM Contractors

City Fabricators

SK Pools

Phillip Kudzayi, Construction Manager from TDW, formally cut the ribbon and presented the symbolic key to the showhouse to Tafadzwa Mahachi, CFO of Stanbic Bank. The glittering event was well attended by the stakeholders and many of the suppliers and service providers for the project. Apart from delegates from TDW, Turnbury Property Developers and Stanbic Bank there were representatives from Pam Golding Properties (who will be managing the lease and rental agreements), Absolute Paints and Coatings, Kojak Roofing, Longden Steel and Ruwa Furniture who supplied the furniture and décor for the show houses. Mr Stanley Marongera, the original owner of the property was in attendance and visibly excited by the outstanding completion of the development.

Some of the neighbours also came to view the project – hopefully it might inspire them to upgrade their own properties and contribute to the upliftment of the suburb.

The development is expected to transform the outlook of the inner city suburb of Meyrick Park, often contrasted with affluent suburbs of Borrowdale, Highlands, or Mount Pleasant to the north. It is also a welcome addition to an area that has recently begun to see other housing developments.

The townhouses, consisting of 26 single-story units, were developed by leading infrastructural

development group, TDW, an architectural design and engineering firm, and Turnbury Property Developers its property development partner, for Stanbic Bank. TDW drew up the townhouse designs in-house as it believes that its “architectural prowess is a competitive advantage”.

Completed in just under 18 months, the development sits on an 11 000 square metre (1,1 hectare) plot, that contained an old, dilapidated house before construction took place. The townhouses are located in a residential area and are a refreshing contrast to other modern developments in Harare right now.

The high-pitched roof and the integration of the Domboshawa stone on the front facade are the most distinctive architectural aspects of the townhouses. The stone is sourced from the Domboshawa peri-urban area providing employment for local residents. It was pointed out that Stanbic Bank’s property development arm has provided a vital boost for the construction industry in Zimbabwe providing jobs and stimulating the economy directly and through downstream related industries.

“Wanganui One offers a fresh, never seen before, single-story design featuring an open plan living area with vaulted trusses.

This unique design is a departure from the norm, allowing tenants to experience a new and superb dimension in townhouse living”, said Simanga Madhlabuta, Director Construction Services for TDW.

He added that that the interior colour choice is a very light ash grey, meant to enhance the natural lighting and complement the colours used in the kitchen while accentuating the tones used for the tiles and the ceilings. These colours won’t be changed since the idea is to maintain a uniform colour throughout.

The design themes that were used for the interiors centred on exposed painted brick to show honesty in the construction materials and the authenticity and beauty of brick. The kitchen is stateof-the-art and has a modern design with handleless soft close doors and drawers, extending the overall allure of the units.

Curating the colour schemes for the interiors was carefully and thoughtfully considered, according to the Director Construction Services, who said: “The colours were specifically curated for this project by our partners at Absolute Paints. The exterior colour is a unique grey that is now known as Wanganui Grey.”

Some of the townhouses are furnished as can be seen in the show unit which is on display. The units are all for rental and handling the tenant placement is Pam Golding, a leading independent residential real estate brokerage and international property organisation operating in virtually every facet of residential and commercial real estate.

The development has a strong and deliberate emphasis on sustainability, green energy and environmental friendliness. It features solar power in each unit and also a solar system for the gate, pool and other common features. The driveway is lit by high performance solar street lights. Water storage tanks have a capacity of 90,000 litres with a filtration system. Each housing unit is individually metered, making it convenient for tenants. A sewer line from the complex connects to the City of Harare line from the Sherwood Golf Club on the eastern boundary of the property.

For the convenience of tenants and guests there are 70 parking bays, two per unit, and a few extra bays for visitors. Wanganui One has several amenities within reach including Avondale shops just 4kms away, Mabelreign Police Station 1 km away, and it is 7kms from the Harare CBD. Also on site is a laundromat for short term guests and those who may need the service.

There is a 24-hour monitored CCTV system, a manned entrance with two guards, bulletproof windows on the guardhouse, an electric fence, and an alarm system connected to Rapid Response. Each unit has about 30 sqm of private garden space and there’s a bigger communal entertainment area by the pool.

Thanks to Troika Design Workshop and Turnbury Property Developers’ teamwork and technical prowess in architectural design and structural delivery, the discerning target market of Harare and Zimbabwe will find a masterfully built, high-end residential option.

We design, manufacture & install customised products as per client's taste & requirements!

Aluminium Sliding Doors

Aluminium Windows

Shower Cubicles

Shop Front

Office partitioning

Putty Glazing

Suspended & plasterboard

ceiling

Joinery

Aluminium Partitions

Shelves

General Repairs & Maintenance

GLASS SALES AT WHOLESALE PRICE!

Van Der Berg Facilities Management (Pvt)

Limited:

Supplier of choice in the built environment value chain

Text by Martin Chemhere Photos supplied by Van Der Berg

Founded 18 years ago, Van Der Berg Facilities Management (Pvt) Limited, has been making steady inroads in the increasingly competitive built environment of Zimbabwe. It provides comprehensive building facilities and project management services to a wide variety of property owners.

Some of the major activities of the company include building and construction, roll forming of IBR and corrugated roofing sheets, and property maintenance. They also do electrical installations and maintenance, water and sanitation systems installations and maintenance, HVAC systems installations and maintenance, and project management services.

“Our vision is to be the facilities management services provider of choice in the built value chain. And our mission is to generate technically and economically sound, environmentally and socially acceptable built environment and engineering solutions,” said Tinaapi Chikomo, the company’s Facilities/Managing Director.

Chikomo is vastly experienced in engineering, construction, administration, and business management having worked for top companies at senior management level. He leads a team of technicians and artisans as well as general hands with a combined hands-on experience of over 100 years in the building services sector.

His company’s supply chain management system involves user/client-initiated resource requirements and description, resource coding and analysis, competitive bidding for resource pricing and procurement, resource delivery and client confirmation/evaluation, after-service monitoring and client evaluation.

Their quality assurance system is human resource-based, and is centered on the engagement and resourcing of the right personnel for the task at hand, detailed procedures and work instructions for each task including project planning and management, activity-based process control, product and service certification and continuous process review.

Van Der Berg Facilities Management (Pvt) Limited owns the 300m2 industrial property that it operates from in a 36-unit upmarket industrial complex in Msasa.

The company has a fleet of utility vehicles comprising an ISUZU FTR 800 Crane Truck, a Mazda T35 Truck, a Toyota Hiace Minibus, and a KIA 2700II Light Truck.

Plans are underway to expand the scope of work and service already provided to production of masonry and concrete products, structural steel fabrication, machining, and general engineering. Currently, including those works listed above, the company can handle relatively large construction and electrical

installations and the expansion plans will enable the company to include structural and road repairs as part of its portfolio.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Unit 2 Harrow Business Park

225 Martin Drive/Harrow Road

Msasa, Harare

Tel: +263 24 244 7579 / 80

Cell: +263 772 246 235 / +263 714 053 716

Email: vanderbg@mweb.co.zw and quotations@vanderberg.co. zw

Exploring the Built Environment:

Big 5 Construct Southern Africa and NAFBI to host Stakeholders Engagement Forum

Driving progress towards a resilient, transparent, and transformed construction industry, top ministers to attend

Tackling corruption, imbalance and destructive delays in the local construction environment are essential for the industry to do well. From AI-based solutions to removing regulatory stumbling blocks, the industry needs to come together to plot the way forward.

To facilitate this, the Big 5 Construct Southern Africa Stakeholders Engagement Forum, hosted in partnership with NAFBI will once again be taking place at Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg this June. The Forum is co-located with a number of industry events including Totally Concrete, the African Smart Cities Summit and the Big 5 Southern Africa Construction Impact Awards.

“The Forum is an open platform for honest engagement, and this year’s theme, ‘the rejuvenation of the built industry’, will bring direction, hope and clarity on issues that the built industry has struggled with over recent years, including corruption, electricity, legislation and regulation, as well as the digitisation of the sector,” says Tracy-Lee Behr, Portfolio Director: Built Environment at dmg events.

The construction industry can be regarded as a broad conglomeration of industries and sectors that add value through the creation and maintenance of fixed assets within the built environment. “This industry is central to the process of economic and social development in any country and as such may be regarded

as an engine of growth,” Behr says.

“Serving as the official keynote opening session for the annual built environment exhibition, the Forum is focused on gathering industry professionals to address, among other topics, the growth and competitiveness of small and medium enterprises in the built environment. We are pleased to announce that Minister Sihle Zikalala, the new Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure has been confirmed among guest speakers this year focusing on the state and rejuvenation of the built industry and the governance at the core of it all.”

What is the current status on good conduct within built environment professions, are we winning with transformation and how successful have we been in protecting the interest of the public? Dr. Msizi Myeza, CEO of the Council for the Built Environment, South Africa will also be among speakers this year and will tackle this topic. Other discussions range from the pledge of the private sector to take the industry forward to dealing with the so-called construction mafia.

Khulekani Mathe, Deputy CEO of Business Unity South Africa will be a panelist discussing the future of the construction sector. “We have to look at feasible, practical solutions to our problems now to work towards reinstating a thriving construction sector, one that is sustainable and resilient,” Mathe says.

“The Stakeholders Engagement Forum and colocated events provide a platform to explore issues, trends and opportunities in Southern Africa’s construction market. They also serve as a celebration of the industry’s great work, inspiring further advancements, and striving towards a futureproofed industry,” adds Behr.

From 27-29 June 2023, Big 5 Construct Southern Africa, now in its tenth year, will provide contractors, engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, designers, and property developers with a convenient one-stop-shop offering free access to over 6000 products and technologies and more than 30 CPD accredited workshops.

The African Smart Cities Summit, being held on 28 June, is the only dedicated conference exploring the benefits of smart cities in Africa enabled through economic growth in IoT, technology and creative thinking; while the Big 5 Southern Africa Construction Impact Awards on 27 June have been created as a platform to celebrate the achievements and transformation of the construction industry that goes beyond traditional measures of project delivery.

“These events serve as a celebration of the remarkable work accomplished in the industry, inspiring even greater achievements and

contributing to building a resilient industry that can adapt and thrive,” Behr concludes.

Register to attend Big 5 Construct Southern Africa and co-located events here: https:// www.thebig5constructsouthernafrica.com

•

Steel Fabrication.

• Steel Erection.

• Electrical Engineering.

• Rigging & Maintenance.

ZCIA SUCCESSFULLY HOSTS INAUGURAL CONFERENCE IN NYANGA

The Zimbabwe Construction Industry Association (ZCIA) hosted its three-tiered inaugural ZCIA Annual General Meeting, Conference and Construction Industry Excellence Awards, a premier event that gathered all the construction industry stakeholders to collaborate and share ideas on the current state of affairs and how to improve our built environment industry.

Text by Martin Chemhere Images by Fotohaus

The theme of the conference was “Reshaping the Built Environment by Harnessing the Fourth Industrial Revolution for Sustainable Development Goals”.

The conference ran from the1st to the 3rd of June 2023 at Troutbeck Inn in Nyanga and was attended by delegates from across the built environment sector in Zimbabwe with other delegates from outside the country, especially South Africa. Built industry players present included the Institute of Architects Zimbabwe (IAZ), the Construction Industry Federation of Zimbabwe (CIFOZ), the Zimbabwe Institute of Engineers (ZIE), the Zimbabwe Building Contractors Association (ZBCA), the Zimbabwe Association of Consulting Engineers (ZACE), Zimbabwe Institute of Geomatics (ZIG), and The Real Estate Institute of Zimbabwe (REIZ).

Address by the Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities:

The Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities, Mr. Daniel Garwe, who was the keynote speaker, spoke about the progress being made at the New Cyber City in Mount Hampden. He said that the massive project is on course but its completion would be dependent on the participation of the private sector. He encouraged the private sector to come forward and partner in the development of various sectors of the project, such as the construction of modern accommodation facilities, shopping malls and other amenities.

The Minister said, “I am sure you are aware that the Project Manager has been appointed already to superintend the appointment of architects, engineers and all the other consultants. It’s already a work in progress. The bulk of the new city is going to be private-sector funded. Government is saying those who can mobilise financial resources right now please come on board. We will allocate the land and give you the specifications needed, in terms of what needs to be developed. We also have an investor from Dubai, Mulk International, who has been doing some planning and preparatory work on site. So, we’re inviting the built environment players and financial institutions and I am happy National Building Society, as government, is here. We want the National Building Society to take a lead role in mobilising financial resources for those who want to form consortiums to help us develop the new city.”

He told the delegates that there is going to be very little work commissioned through tendering processes or set aside for funding from the treasury. Noting that this is a private sectordriven initiative the government was inviting both domestic and foreign investors to join hands with

the government to develop the new city. In his presentation he mentioned that the Cyber City project presents a lot of opportunities for architects, engineers, and other related professions. Talking about the state of affairs in the built environment, he said, “I received a brief with the industry’s expectations, industry by industry, sector by sector. I listened to all of them and felt I need to share with you a scripture from the Bible which I normally share with people with expectations such as yours. If you go to the Book of Mark Chapter 11 verse 24, it says, “Whatsoever you shall desire, if you pray and believe in the prayer you will receive it and have it in Jesus’ name Amen.” So, as you leave Troutbeck Inn, go and read and contextualise that scripture, that verse. You’ll be able to get what you are desiring.”

He also said that the Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities was created primarily to focus on the issues that were discussed at the conference. It was mandated in November 2019 when the Ministry was created. Its responsibility is to listen to the voice of the built environment professionals and its mandate is to drive a private sector-driven Ministry. What that means, he explained, is that the Ministry is among the ministries with the smallest budget but with probably the biggest responsibility to deal with issues that are affecting how people are living in terms of settlements.

“It’s a mammoth task to bring back dignity to the Zimbabwean populace, to bring back easy access to shelter. That mandate cannot be fulfilled by the government alone but by the government and the private sector together. I am happy, humbled and honoured by the participation coming from the private sector to date in terms of housing delivery. We have got our architects very active; you can see the houses that are being designed. We’ve got our engineers very active as well, we’ve got our property developers, the real estate actors bringing in innovations in terms of the mobilisation of financial resources, participating in human settlement delivery.”

He thanked the National Building Society (NBS) for the role that they have played to date in the housing delivery programme. He said that there are many areas that the Ministry still needs to look at and he was aware of where the ministry was coming from as he has strong and direct built environment experience dating back many decades. He added that the Zimbabwe Building Contractors Association (ZBCA) was formed to put pressure on government to come up with empowerment policies and that the construction industry is now driven by the actors.

“You must now focus on innovative ways that will ensure survival as business people rather than as contractors, as business people more than as architects and engineers.

We must recalibrate our mindsets, recalibrate how we look at business,” he challenged the delegates.

He reminded them that within the housing sector the Ministry has a policy on human settlements that speaks to the aspirations of the built environment players. He stated that, “There is a boom in the housing sector but the players in the industry are not seeing it due to the fact they have failed to regroup. We have been reluctant to organise ourselves and people coming from outside have seen an opportunity to do business in the built environment and have taken that market from yourselves and they are employing you.”

He encouraged the construction industry to work with registered architects as a way of bringing sanity back to the industry. He added that players in the built environment should look at opportunities brought about by the transformation of rural district councils into towns. These towns include Murehwa, Mutoko, Chivhu, Tsholotsho, Nyanga, Esigodini and others. Opportunities in these newly proclaimed towns include the building of various structures like roads, housing, sewer and water reticulation, and so forth. These are virgin areas that most built environment players have never thought of and would need to move in fast.

Awards:

The highlight of the conference was the Construction Industry Excellence Awards which brought together all industry stakeholders to acknowledge each other’s success stories.

The award winners were:

Building Materials Supplier of the Year: Union

Hardware and Halsteds (Runner Up)

Supplier of the Year: Water & Reticulation:

DripTech and ProPlastics (Runner Up)

Supplier of the Year: Road & Public Works:

Bitumen and Masimba Holdings (Runner Up)

Construction Financier of the Year: National Building Society and Old Mutual (Runner Up) Property Developer of the Year: West

Property and Old Mutual (Runner Up)

Architectural Practice of the Year: Natsanza Architects and Studio Arts Inc (Runner Up)

The Zimbabwe Construction Industry Association (ZCIA) is a voluntary umbrella body that was established in 1994 to bring together all the stakeholders in the built environment.

The conference was organized by Blue Roof Media with strategic support from CAAST Media Group.

Permanent Secretary, Harare Metropolitan Province (Provincial Affairs and Devolution) Tafadzwa Muguti, says Zimbabwe has the capacity to utilise the knowledge, skills and competencies of its engineering professionals and attain world-class levels in engineering projects.

He made the comments during the Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony held at the Rainbow Towers Hotel on the 19th of May.

“The plethora of engineering challenges the nation is facing require targeted investments in infrastructure development, technological innovation and workforce development in various engineering disciplines. This calls

Zimbabwean Engineers have the capacity to advance and implement diverse engineering solutions

for a radical transformation of the engineering curriculum and instructional pedagogies,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary added that there is a need for deliberate, systematic and sustainable partnerships between government, local authorities, industry thought leaders and research institutions to advance engineering solutions that will improve the quality of life.

Mr Muguti noted that “investing in infrastructure development programmes to improve transportation networks, communication technologies and access to reliable and affordable energy and water sources is a key fundamental issue”.

Additionally, to increase access to clean water, development of new water supply systems and technologies that can purify large volumes of water to meet the needs of communities is required.

Engineering solutions such as weather monitoring technologies, crop and animal husbandry disease management techniques and the development of new food production techniques can help to alleviate food insecurity.

Engineers have solutions to improve healthcare access and outcomes such as the use of telemedicine technologies, medical equipment and modern health data management systems.

- text by Perry Kaande

- photos by Fotohaus

Mr Muguti commended the recent commissioning of Hwange Units 7 and 8.

“However, our electrical engineers should champion increased development of the usage of renewable energy sources such as solar, hydro, and wind power,” he added.

Collaboration with external experts will buttress our local capacity, “without allowing an avalanche or influx of novice engineering professionals who masquerade as experts.” It is a statutory requirement that each foreign engineer, technologist or technician should have a local understudy. This ensures that there is a systematic knowledge transfer from the said experts to locals.

The Government is commended for continually promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects in schools, the establishment of innovation hubs, and industrial parks in higher and tertiary education in line with the nation’s Education 5.0 trajectory, read together with the provisions of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and Vision 2030.

The ZIE immediate past president, Engineer Tamsanga Mpala concurred with Mr. Muguti by noting that Engineers have a key role in national development across all sectors.

“There is no doubting that Engineering has taken centre stage in the country and is the fulcrum of achieving the goals in the National

Development Strategy 1 and Vision 2030. There is no better time than now to take full advantage of this motion as Engineers and stamp our blueprint by participating and delivering world class infrastructure,” he agreed.

During the ceremony a new board was inducted, and a number of engineers and engineering companies were presented with various awards for their outstanding contribution in the engineering fraternity. Of special note was the historic moment when Engineer Farai Mavhiya-Bhiza was announced as the President-elect of the Institution. She is the first black woman to be at the helm of the Institution since it was formed in 1944.

ZIE is a private professional body made up of its members. Its operations and membership are regulated by a Private Act of Parliament which in turn is regulated by the Engineering Council of Zimbabwe (ECZ), mandated by the Engineering Council Act 27:22, read together with SI 153 of 2012. ZIE is a multi-disciplinary Institution covering all engineering disciplines. ZIE can be visited physically at Conquenar House, 256 Samora Machel Avenue Eastlea, Harare or virtually at www.zie.org.zw. They can be contacted on +263 242 746 821 and hello@zie.org.zw.

Find below concise narration of the awards conferred to the various engineering professionals at the ZIE 2023 Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony:

Honorary Fellow - Any person who the Institution desires to honour for his/her distinguished work as a professional engineer or for his/her exceptional and important services in connection with engineering or to the Institution may be elected and registered as an Honorary Fellow of the Institution by a two thirds majority vote of The Board.

Awardee: Professor Dr. Amon Murwira

Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology

Engineering Achievement Award - Public recognition of noteworthy

engineering achievement

PROJECT: Oxygen Plant

AWARDEE: Verify Engineering

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) AwardPaper, talk or construction project concerning energy development, maximisation, and sustainability.

PROJECT: Hwange Unit 7 and 8

AWARDEE: Zimbabwe Power Company

K.G. Stevens Award - Presentation of a paper of high standard by a Corporate Member(s)

AWARDEE: Eng. Joy Pedzisayi Makumbe

PRESENTATION: A Review of the Role Played by Sustainable Infrastructure in Zimbabwean Cities: A Focus on the Contributions to the Economic Growth of the Country

Institutional Award-Recognition of a ZIE member for service rendered to the Institution through participation in various ZIE committees or facilitation of well received CPD course.

AWARDEES:

1. Eng. Zvikomborero Hoko – Editorial Committee and Engineering Training as an Academic

2. Eng. Donald Museka – Valuable participation in Membership Interviews

3. Eng. Andrew Richard Sahondo - Valuable participation in Membership Interviews

4. Eng. Peter Smith -Retired Chairman Membership Committee

5. Eng. Ivan Johnson - Retired Membership Committee Member

P.H. Havilland Award

Significant contribution to water conservation, irrigation, pollution prevention and allied fields by any person resident in Zimbabwe.

AWARDEES: Eng. Kwanele G. Sibanda, Eng. Sibusisiwe Sibanda and Eng. Robson Manatsa

PRESENTATION: Creating awareness of the need for intentional water loss management in public water supply

President’s Commendation - Paper of outstanding merit in a much-specialised field.

AWARDEE: Michelle Maphosa

PAPER: Sibo the Civil Engineer (Preparatory education narrative on civil engineering)

Presidential Merit Award - Paper of outstanding merit by any person and of a most high standard, in the mould of Stevens’ Award.

AWARDEE: Eng. Martin Manuhwa

PAPER: Digital Transformation through Engineering Capacity Building and Quality Education for New National Development Models: A Disruptive New World Order in Zimbabwe and Africa’s Favour.

R. M. Bill Wild Award - Outstanding Design and Supervision of construction of a Major Dam or Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant or Transmission Mains (Canal or Pipeline).

AWARDEE: ZINWA

PROJECT: ZINWA Small Holder Irrigation Rehabilitation Project

P.H. Havilland Award - Significant contribution to water conservation, irrigation, pollution prevention and allied fields by any person resident in Zimbabwe.

AWARDEE: Professor Innocent Nhapi

Technician or Graduate Paper Award - Best paper presented by a technician or graduate member or published in the Zimbabwe Engineer.

AWARDEE: Nancy Gwangwadze (GZweIE)

PAPER: Engineering Education Capacity Building: The case of Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwe German Society.

Goethe Zentrum Harare (ZGS/GZH) Pavilion

The Zimbabwe German Society/ Goethe Zentrum Harare (ZGS/GZH) recently celebrated the first anniversary of the opening of Atheir new pavilion at their language and cultural centre in Milton Park. The multi-functional space has become the centre for workshops, celebrations and events hosting musicians, theatre performances, book readings and conferences. It also works as an additional study space during the day for students and teachers.

It was designed by architect Kristina Egbers from the Berlin based architectural practice studio*k and has received special mention as a nominee for the ArchDaily Small Scale and Installations category awards. Egbers also designed and oversaw the construction of the Rising Star School in Hopley which we featured in our last issue. Rising Star was also nominated

for a number of awards and the two projects share some of the same design aesthetics. Both structures have a deceptively simple – and functional – design and both use a similar, restrained palette of materials. Local, unadorned bricks are the main material, complemented with timber – and all easily and affordably available. Egbers also used most of the same contractors for both projects – Shining Beam Construction. In fact, the two projects were taking place at the same time and workers were alternating between the two sites as needed, headed by the site foreman Blessing Katambarare and his assistant Talent Rupiya. They also had skilled carpenters, brick layers and metal workers on site. Godfrey Nyagato from ArchStruct Design provided engineering consultancy and designs.

There was an existing, open air, pavilion on the site at ZGS/GZH but it had been built a number of years ago and the timber and thatch badly

Text by Michael Nott

Photos by Kristina Egbers

needed to be replaced. The old gazebo had to be demolished and in 2020 the journey towards the new structure began. Egbers consulted

with ZGS/GZH to find out exactly what was required and presented two alternative designs. There was an extensive consultation process between the architect, the ZGS/GZH team and the other parties involved. The final design which was chosen has a rectangular footprint, slightly larger than the old gazebo at 130 square meters – the available space in the back garden at ZGS/GZH is quite restricted.

The structure is made up of a series of brick columns, each about a metre in depth, so the inside space is fairly sheltered from the elements. There are no doors or windows but there’s the option to add heavy curtains at a later stage if needed. The rows of columns are set up symmetrically so they’re the same on both sides. The columns in the middle of each side are set at 0 degrees. The next row of four columns – two on either side of the central columns - are set at 15 degrees, the next row at 30 degrees and the final columns are set at 45 degrees. This means that there are different slices of the view of the garden which change as you move around the internal space. At one end is a small raised stage, constructed in brick, which has a front face of bricks set in a horizontal chevron pattern. The stage is not very deep but can be extended with timber blocks to create different sizes and configurations as needed. Behind the stage a plain wall creates two dressing rooms with an entrance on either side.

The roof is made of locally assembled trusses branching off in a V-shape from the central beam. Because the brick columns are twisted at different angles the trusses are of different lengths and set at different angles so it’s a bit of

a structural jigsaw which was quite demanding to fit together. The complicated structure was made by The Wattle Company. The trusses support an LED lighting rig designed and supplied by Mildred Moyo from Phenomenal Lighting and Power Solutions for theatrical productions or musical events. The simple wooden chairs were designed and supplied by Nora Muller from local furniture makers Pachipamwe Africa.

Above the trusses is a plywood ceiling and above that an open air deck clad in red gum timber. The top deck can accommodate at most 50 people, making the venue very flexible for different events. A brick staircase, angled at 45 degrees to match the last row of columns, leads up to the roof. The metalworkers from the Hopley project have made simple steel balustrades and rails for the staircase and the deck.

Kristina Egbers is founder of Berlin-based practice studio*k.

“The first, probably obvious, but still indispensable skill for me is sketching with a pen, so that I can quickly and easily put thoughts on paper. Even when developing details, this can help to avoid overthinking and planning. The second, and often lost, skill is designing directly at the construction site. But this is still possible, especially with my projects in Zimbabwe, so that I can develop and solve details with our team directly during construction. Of course, this is often the setting of bricks in different bonds that characterise my projects.”

USD150 million for construction of 120km Bulawayo - Old Gwanda Road

The Government of Zimbabwe has given the all clear for the construction of the 120 kilometre Bulawayo-Old Gwanda Road. The project will cost USD150 million on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) model. It is anticipated that the venture will be completed before the end of the year.

Chief Executive Officer of Zwane Enterprise, the company that is headlining the project, Engineer Bekithemba Mbambo, indicated that the project would commence with a four week feasibility study. This would be followed by the signing of the BOT contract and the eventual rolling in of machinery and equipment on-site.

The road project is expected to benefit people from Matabeleland South province through employment creation, domestic tourism and business opportunities. Additionally, a big bridge will be built at Mtshabezi River near Gwanda as well as the construction of supporting infrastructure.

Farewell to Paolo Portoghesi (1931-2023)

Renowned architect, theorist, academic, historian and wellregarded professor passed away on the 30th May at the age of 92.

He was the first president of the architectural section of the Venice Biennale (1979–1992). In 1980, he spearheaded the creation of the first Venice Architecture Biennale for which he presented submissions from some of the world’s most prominent architects, including Frank Gehry, Rem Koolhaas, Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown. He was dean of the Faculty of Architecture at the Politecnico di Milano university (1968–1978). Portoghesi opened an architectural practice with architect-engineer Vittorio Gigliotti in Rome in 1964.

Casa Papanice (1966 -1970), the Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre in Rome (1984-95), the Renaissance district in the Talenti Park in Rome (2001) and Politeama Theater of Catanzaro (2002) and the Strasbourg Mosque (2012) are among his most famous architectural works.

He’s been described as pioneer of Italy’s postmodernist movement drawing inspiration from the works of Victor Horta and Frank Lloyd Wright. He incorporated neorealism and the Liberty style, instilling his own architectural creations with a blend of tradition and innovation. His designs combined geometry with organic shapes to produce a remarkable and unique type of structure.

Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport expansion project

Exciting news!

We are thrilled to announce that new RG Mugabe Airport will be commissioned on 13 July 2023. Get ready for a world-class travel experience with state-of-the-art facilities and top-notch services. Stay tuned for more updates!

Project brief:

• Expansion of the terminal building to increase annual passenger capacity from the current 2.5 million to 6million;

• Installation of 4 new aerobridges, one with capacity of handling A380 aircraft and 4 baggage carousels;

• Construction of New Fire Station;

• Relocation of satellite fire station;

• Rehabilitation of Existing Apron;

• Construction of a new VIP Pavilion;

• Rehabilitation of existing International and Domestic Terminal Buildings;

• Upgrading of Equipment for passenger facilitation (FIDS, CUPPS,

• Check in counters, Baggage Handling equipment, Access Control, BMS)

RUFARO STADIUM UNDERGOES LIGHTWORKS REFURBISHMENT

Text by Martin Chemhere

The renovations have come as a great relief for soccer fans in Harare and the country’s leading soccer club, Dynamos, who were using the facility before it was condemned in 2019 by the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) for its poor condition.

Unused for some time, the 60-000 capacity stadium’s completion will bring relief to the Premier Soccer League, and small businesses including vendors, who sold various goods on match days.

Renovations at the 1963 built stadium, are being carried out at the Mbare-based “ceremonial home of Zimbabwean football”, by City Parking in partnership with the Harare City Council (HCC), including work on the turnstiles, turf, and installation of a second solar powered-borehole which are all now finished and the floodlight system. As part of the deal, City Parking is also expected to renovate the perimeter wall, construct a parking lot, and shopping complex and revamp the B Arena ground. The upgrade will enable the stadium to match the standards set by the Premier Soccer League. Among other source materials, bricks, river sand, pit sand, and cement are being used for the project.