Chronicle Editor
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Building Contractors Association (ZBCA) has urged the country to implement a national building code to bring order and standards to the construction industry.
A national building code serves as a comprehensive framework that regulates construction activities, ensuring safety and quality across the nation.
Currently, Zimbabwe lacks such a code, with building standards being managed on a regional basis, which has led to inconsistencies and challenges within the sector.
In a presentation on the Building and Construction Sector’s Role in Creating Resilient and Sustainable Cities at the Africa Infrastructure and Built Environment Confex (AfriConfex) 2024 Conference and Official Opening in Bulawayo on Thursday, ZBCA president, Dr Tinashe Manzungu said there was an urgent need to create the country’s national building code.
“We advocate for a continuous improvement of regulations that support innovation, timely approvals including permits and as well incentives that stimulate investments in infrastructure development.
“As you have heard, only Harare has the approved building codes that were done in 1977, while the rest of the country does not have those. In fact, we do not have a national building code, which is very critical,” he said.
“If someone is going to build in a wetland or servitude as well as anywhere undesignated, there can also be cases of building a high density house in a low density area, what then makes us say this person is wrong or is building an illegal structure yet we do not have a guiding ruler of a building code or by-law? That is a critical question.”
In terms of the master plans, he said they were looking forward to them being approved by 2025 to ensure most of the city councils and local authorities clearly outline the rapid development in their areas of jurisdiction.
Dr Manzungu said currently, without the approved master plans, it was difficult to define an illegal settler.
“For example in the City of Mutare, if a person builds however they want, how then do you govern that person and say their structure is illegal? So, this becomes an egg and chicken issue where there are conflicts with policy makers, we have seen demolitions taking place,” he added.
He said there was need to address all the issues that were causing demolitions to take place as people would have invested money only for the structures to be destroyed.
Dr Manzungu said there was need for the master plans to be approved and a national building code to be set in order to build resilient cities in Zimbabwe.
He said: “It’s not about the policy makers alone, it’s about us as well as building contractors. We should make sure that there is a collaborated approach between contractors, engineers, architects and surveyors, among other players in the construction industry.”
Dr Manzungu commended President Mnangagwa for pushing for the master plans to be in place, stating that shoddy deals in the construction industry should be a thing of the past.
A masterplan is not a detailed plan. It is more of the outline, laying down the principles of how an area can be developed, marking the axes of development and noting the extra infrastructure that will be required and in some cases working out how the master plan of one authority will mesh with the master plan of the neighbouring authority or authorities.
AfriConfex 2024 Conference ran under the theme: “Resilient Cities, Thriving Africa: Building Sustainable Infrastructure for Economic Growth.” The three-day event is Zimbabwe’s biggest gathering of buyers and sellers for the entire built environment value chain.
derick.khumalo