20
by Kibo Ngowi >>> CONTINUED PAGE 05 BR Properties - Botswana’s first Parastatal Property Investment Subsidiary A Fresh Approach to Buiding a Home - Inside House Agolen II >>> CONTINUED PAGES 04, 08 Meet three of Botswana’s best rising engineers >>> CONTINUED PAGE 14 >>> CONTINUED PAGES 03, 04, & 06 by Kibo Ngowi by Leago Sebina As an architect, the opportunity to design a building offers, not only the creation of a physical expression of the building itself, but also the possibility for architecture to mould the life and memories of its inhabitants. There- fore, one could argue that architecture should be thought of as being alive as opposed to the way it is usually viewed, as being static. There is no other build- ing typology that embodies such a no- tion of architecture than the house, the most basic and primal form of shelter for human beings. OIDUS FOCUS BOTSWANA’S BUILT ENVIRONMENT NEWSPAPER Registered at GPO as a Newspaper | P8.00 (Including VAT) Sustainability Today: Starting blocks with climate change Education Feature: Botho University Builds Francistown Campus Factors to Consider When Establishing Sector Regulation 06 15 18 www.boidus.co.bw | | Volume 4, Issue 7 | AUGUST 2014 BOIDUS EXCLUSIVE > BOIDUS FEATURE > BR Properties is a pioneer organi- sation as it is the first example of a company established to commer- cially exploit the real estate assets of a Botswana Government enterprise. The performance of this company will serve as a test case for many other departments with ambitions of creat- ing similar entities. Boidus Focus met with BR Properties Managing Director Oarabile Zhikhwa to explore the brief history and long-term ambitions of her organisation. “In this line of work you need to put your- self in a position where you have interest and ownership of the projects you’re deal- ing with because structural engineering is a sensitive field in that we are dealing with peoples’ safety. We are putting up structures which are going to house lives so you can’t approach this profession as simply a job. You have to see it as a responsibility and a privilege.” - Tapa Moseki “I would say that as an engineer, espe- cially in the construction field, experience is crucial, which is why firms tend to only hire engineers with a high amount of experience for senior project roles. And that’s understandable to me, because as much as you can go to school and read books, there’s no substitute for actually being involved in a project...” - Matlhodi Keaikitse LEFT: Felix Chavaphi, MIDDLE: Tapa Moseki, RIGHT: Matlhodi Keaikitse Felix Chavaphi, founder of Norcon Group; Tapa Moseki, partner at Engineering Partners International; Matlhodi Keaikitse, partner at Ezra’s Contracting Services Felix Chavaphi Portfolio [TOP] University of Botswana Library at a cost of P54 million with Murray & Roberts [BOTTOM] Gaborone Taxi Rank Shopping Complex Plot 7 at a cost of P2million with Murray & Roberts

Boidus Focus - Vol 4, Issue 7 [Aug 2014]

Embed Size (px)

DESCRIPTION

 

Citation preview

Page 1: Boidus Focus - Vol 4, Issue 7 [Aug 2014]

by Kibo Ngowi

>>> CONTINUED PAGE 05

BR Properties - Botswana’s first Parastatal Property Investment Subsidiary

A Fresh Approach to Buiding a Home - Inside House Agolen II

>>> CONTINUED PAGES 04, 08

Meet three of Botswana’s best rising engineers

>>> CONTINUED PAGE 14>>> CONTINUED PAGES 03, 04, & 06

by Kibo Ngowi

by Leago Sebina

As an architect, the opportunity to design a building offers, not only the creation of a physical expression of the building itself, but also the possibility for architecture to mould the life and memories of its inhabitants. There-fore, one could argue that architecture should be thought of as being alive as

opposed to the way it is usually viewed, as being static. There is no other build-ing typology that embodies such a no-tion of architecture than the house, the most basic and primal form of shelter for human beings.

OIDUS FOCUSBOTSWANA’S BUILT ENVIRONMENT NEWSPAPER

Registered at GPO as a Newspaper | P8.00 (Including VAT)

Sustainability Today: Starting blocks with climate change

Education Feature:Botho University Builds Francistown Campus

Factors to Consider When Establishing Sector Regulation

06 15 18www.boidus.co.bw | | Volume 4, Issue 7 | AUGUST 2014

BOIDUS EXCLUSIVE >BOIDUS FEATURE >

BR Properties is a pioneer organi-sation as it is the first example of a company established to commer-cially exploit the real estate assets of a Botswana Government enterprise. The performance of this company will serve as a test case for many other

departments with ambitions of creat-ing similar entities. Boidus Focus met with BR Properties Managing Director Oarabile Zhikhwa to explore the brief history and long-term ambitions of her organisation.

“In this line of work you need to put your-self in a position where you have interest and ownership of the projects you’re deal-ing with because structural engineering is a sensitive field in that we are dealing with peoples’ safety. We are putting up structures which are going to house lives so you can’t approach this profession as simply a job. You have to see it as a responsibility and a privilege.” - Tapa Moseki

“I would say that as an engineer, espe-cially in the construction field, experience is crucial, which is why firms tend to only hire engineers with a high amount of experience for senior project roles. And that’s understandable to me, because as much as you can go to school and read books, there’s no substitute for actually being involved in a project...” - Matlhodi Keaikitse

LEFT: Felix Chavaphi, MIDDLE: Tapa Moseki, RIGHT: Matlhodi Keaikitse

Felix Chavaphi, founder of Norcon Group; Tapa Moseki, partner at Engineering Partners International; Matlhodi Keaikitse, partner at Ezra’s Contracting Services

Felix Chavaphi Portfolio [TOP] University of Botswana Library at a cost of P54 million with Murray & Roberts[BOTTOM] Gaborone Taxi Rank Shopping Complex Plot 7 at a cost of P2million with Murray & Roberts

Page 2: Boidus Focus - Vol 4, Issue 7 [Aug 2014]

BOIDUS FOCUSAugust 2014

Local NewsPage 2Local NewsPage 2

News Briefs Compiled by Keeletsang P. DiphekoSPRINT COURIERS GETS ISAQ AWARD

The Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology (MIST) will host a Construction Pitso at the Gabo-rone International Convention Centre this week (5th to 6th August). The theme of the Pitso is “Restruc-turing Infrastructure Science & Technology Space for Excellence” and its stated purpose is to reflect on matters that cover the complete mandate of infrastructure, science & technology. The gathering is also expected deliberate on matters of Project Financing and Public Private Partnerships with a view to bring-ing these issues back into public debate.

MIST TO HOST CONSTRUCTION PITSO

The 37th annual Organisation of Eastern and Southern Africa Insurers (OESAI) conference will be held in Bo-tswana for the first time in its history. The conference, which is themed, “Overcoming Barriers to Enhancing regional Capacity in the Insurance Industry,” will attract over 130 delegates from over 25 countries, including potential insurance investors, decision-makers, and high level delegates from Eastern and Southern Africa to Gaborone in mid-August. The conference is an opportunity for local and foreign insurance companies to interact and build relationships.

OESAI TO HOST FIRST INSURANCE CON-FERENCE IN BOTSWANA

Assistant minister of Local Government and Rural development Ms. Botlogile Tshireletso has stated that the defects evident on the newly constructed bridge at Manxotai are not a result of poor workmanship, inadequate design or structural failure and therefore neither the consultant nor the contractor can be charged for the repairs. The minister delivered this information in Parliament this past week and went on to say that the damage came as a result of the extremely heavy rainfall that was received in the river catchment area in 2013.

MANXOTAI BRIDGE DEFECTS NOT A RE-SULT OF POOR WORKMANSHIP

Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Dumelang Saleshando placed before Parliament a motion calling for investigations into land scarcity in urban centres. Saleshando asked the House to decide on a compre-hensive land audit to establish the factors that have led to demand outstripping supply in most urban cen-tres. While he commends the efforts of the Land Administration Procedure Capacity and Systems (LAPCAS), Saleshando argues that the programme only records ownership of land without scrutinising questions of land supply and demand.

PARLIAMENT OPPOSITION LEADER ADVO-CATES FOR LAND AUDIT

A fully integrated steel manufacturing company, Pula Steel and Casting Manufactures, has been established in Botswana and already begun construction of a steel plant, at a projected cost of P89.5 million, which will create 1000 direct jobs at full production. Speaking at the groundbreaking last month, Vice President Dr Ponatshego H.K. Kedikilwe indicated that Botswana currently imports all its steel, mainly from South Africa and China, and that the demand for steel in Botswana amounted to P2.6 billion in 2013, according to Inter-national Trade Statistics.

NEW COMPANY SET TO DRIVE STEEL PRODUC-TION FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

For more details on these stories please visit www.boidus.co.bw

Sprint Couriers

Sprint Couriersyour world delivered

Sprint CouriersSprint Couriersyour world delivered

Sprint CouriersSprint Couriersyour world delivered

Sprin

t Cou

riers

Sprin

t Cou

riers

your

wor

ld d

eliv

ered

Sprint CouriersSprint Couriersyour world delivered

Sprint Couriers is to be presented with the International Star Award for Quality (ISAQ) at the Business Initiative Directions’ (BID) international Quality Convention to be held on September 20 - 21 in Geneva, Switzerland. The ISAQ honours organisa-tions merits in innovation, quality, excel-lence and good practices and has been presented internationally to companies and organisations since 1987.

Sprint Couriers has been chosen for fulfill-ing 70 per cent of local courier market needs, creating customised domestic services exclusively for the Botswana mar-ket and being the only courier company co-owned by women in all of Africa.

Sprint Couriers operations director Ms Pinkie Setlalekgosi said she believed that the honour had made the country proud. She also said they were honoured to be representing women. “This award is for all the women in the world, all the women in Africa and for Botswana.”

“The awards we have received as Sprint Couriers only make us want to work that much harder at achieving our goals and continuing to be number one. The best quality of the service we provide is the main focus and we are always aiming for constant improvement. This particular one is going to give us a chance to network with people from different businesses and professionals. It is a great opportunity and we are honoured and excited to have been recognized on an international platform” said the project director Mrs Michelle Gebrial.

The BID awards are held annually to celebrate the achievements of member organisations by way of the International Star Award for Quality. BID is a global consultancy firm dedicated to spreading performance excellence in both the pub-lic and private sectors worldwide.

Sprint Couriers

Sprint Couriersyour world delivered

Sprint CouriersSprint Couriersyour world delivered

Sprint CouriersSprint Couriersyour world delivered

Sprin

t Cou

riers

Sprin

t Cou

riers

your

wor

ld d

eliv

ered

Sprint CouriersSprint Couriersyour world delivered

Sprint Couriers

Sprint Couriersyour world delivered

Sprint CouriersSprint Couriersyour world delivered

Sprint CouriersSprint Couriersyour world delivered

Sprin

t Cou

riers

Sprin

t Cou

riers

your

wor

ld d

eliv

ered

Sprint CouriersSprint Couriersyour world delivered

Sprint Couriers

Sprint Couriersyour world delivered

Sprint CouriersSprint Couriersyour world delivered

Sprint CouriersSprint Couriersyour world delivered

Sprin

t Cou

riers

Sprin

t Cou

riers

your

wor

ld d

eliv

ered

Sprint CouriersSprint Couriersyour world delivered

Sprint Couriers

Sprint Couriersyour world delivered

Sprint CouriersSprint Couriersyour world delivered

Sprint CouriersSprint Couriersyour world delivered

Sprin

t Cou

riers

Sprin

t Cou

riers

your

wor

ld d

eliv

ered

Sprint CouriersSprint Couriersyour world delivered

Advertorial

The demand for steel in Botswana in 2013, according to International Trade Statistics, which currently imports all its steel, mainly from South Africa and China.

P2.6b

Page 3: Boidus Focus - Vol 4, Issue 7 [Aug 2014]

BOIDUS FOCUSAugust 2014

Boidus FeaturePage 3

Felix Chavaphi first entered the engineering in-dustry with the firm Murray & Roberts. During his studies at the University of Botswana he spent both of his professional attachments at the firm so when he graduated he immediately joined the company as a Junior Engineer. The first project he worked on for the firm was actually on the campus of his alma mater. It was the UB Library, built at a total cost of P54 million, over a project duration of roughly two years. The project ac-tually started while he was still a student at the University and as a full-time employee of Murray & Roberts he was part of the team that saw the project through to completion.

Another significant project he worked on for the firm was Plot 7 at the Gaborone Taxi Rank Shop-ping Complex which was done in five months at a cost of P2 million. Chavaphi explains that the logistics around the project were quite complex because he and his team had to work in a con-stantly busy environment in which people, taxis and combis were always moving back and forth and the size of the plot meant they also faced challenges associated with limited space. None-theless, his performance on that project was so exceptional that he received an internal award from Murray & Roberts.

Things were going well with the firm until they tried to transfer him to Kasane. Having grown in up in the rural village of Tutume, Chavaphi says he was not interested in going back to a rural area. He had long had ambitions of going to the city and going into business for himself. When Chavaphi was younger he had actually wanted to be a lawyer but his carpenter father influenced him into taking the technical route, even getting a job for the young Felix at the Quantity Sur-veying firm of one of his friends, during Felix’s gap year after completing form 5. That was the experience that peaked Chavaphi’s interest in pursuing a technical career, while still keeping his entrepreneurial ambitions in mind. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Engineering in Building and Construction Degree from the University of Botswana.

After leaving Murrary & Roberts, Chavaphi took the bold step of establishing his own engineering firm, Norcon Group, in 2001. He was fortunate to gain the assistance of a friend and entrepre-neur in his own right, Mr. Matenje, who gave Chavaphi his first job, building Matenje’s house in Phakalane. Chavaphi actually used the upfront payment he received from Matenge to buy his company’s first tools.

Another significant project Chavaphi did with Norcon was the construction of two Magistrate Courts in rural areas that were done simul-taneously for Local Government. One was in Moshaweng and the other was in Kolonkwaneng. The two villages are located hundreds of kilome-tres apart so Chavaphi had to carefully manage his resources to make sure that both projects stayed on track. They were built at an approxi-mate cost of P3 million each.

Norcon has grown into a successful company, employing over 20 permanent staff, and boasting completed projects varying across residential de-velopments and renovations, culvert construction, storm water drainage construction and others. Most recently, the firm constructed the Boitekane-lo College campus at a cost of over P5 million.

In 2003, Chavaphi had the good fortune of re-ceiving an offer to buy a stake in a solar company – then Solahart but now Energy Systems Group.

He bought a 50% stake in the company, the rest of which would remain with the founder who serves as Marketing Manager. The company has since grown to be an all-round energy solutions provider with several different business units, in-cluding thermal, mechanical and electrical. It now employs over 50 permanent staff and outsources others for various projects.

Chavaphi is the Chairman and CEO of Energy Sys-tems Group, as well as the Founding President, Chairman and COO of Norcon Group, and even at this advanced stage of his career he remains serious about developing his ability. Last year he earned a Masters in Business Leadership from the University of South Africa (UNISA).

by Kibo Ngowi

Meet three of Botswana’s best rising engineers: Felix ChavaphiName: Felix Chavaphi

Age: 41

Firm: Energy Systems Group Chairman and CEO; Norcon Group Founding President, Chairman and COO.

Qualifications: Bachelor of Engineering in Building and Construction from the University of Botswana (UB); Masters in Business and Leadership from the University of South Africa (UNISA).

Key Projects: • Project Manager on the simultaneous construction of the Kolonkwaneng Customary

Court and the extension of the Moshaweng Customary Court at a cost of P3 million each for Norcon Group;

• Junior Engineer and Site Manager on the construction of the University of Botswana Library at a cost of P54 million with Murray & Roberts;

• Junior Engineer and Site Manager on the construction Gaborone Taxi Rank Shopping Complex Plot 7 at a cost of P2million with Murray & Roberts.

CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE

Page 4: Boidus Focus - Vol 4, Issue 7 [Aug 2014]

BOIDUS FOCUSAugust 2014

Boidus FeaturePage 4

by Kibo Ngowi

Meet three of Botswana’s best rising engineers: Tapa Moseki CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE

After graduating from the University of Botswana with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Tapa Moseki spent almost a year searching for employment. He was repeatedly turned away from companies claiming not to have any extra work, until finally he decided to take matters into his own hands.

He resolved that he would not leave the next engi-neering firm he approached without a job but sure enough the next one he approached had the same story as the others. He didn’t give up. He told the Senior Engineer at the company that he wanted an opportunity to simply learn the processes and they wouldn’t have to pay him a thebe. It was agreed and for the next month Moseki worked diligently with no contract.

At the end of that month, the engineer who had allowed him to stay called Moseki into his of-fice, offered the young engineer a contract and gave Moseki a fee for the work he had done that month. The Senior Engineer was Mr. Thipe and the firm was Pinagare Engineers. “Mr. Thipe was a good man,” Moseki says, looking back on that experience years later. “He gave me a chance to prove myself and once I had, he gave me a job.”

It was while working under Mr. Thipe that Moseki started focusing on structural engineering, as his new boss was an accomplished structural engi-neer, and since then he’s mostly been doing struc-tural work.

After Pinagare he went to Murray & Roberts and

“We had a lot of projects and an environment that were quite interesting, where you had a team of engineers and architects under one roof. And as new engineers kept coming I felt that this was an environment that was quite conducive for someone to begin a career because when I was there there was never any shortage of projects; government departments will always have projects.”

Name: Tapa MosekiAge: 39Firm: Engineering Partners InternationalQualifications: Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the University of Botswana (UB)Key Projects: • Design and supervision for Tlotlo Hotel

and Conference Centre, Gaborone, at a cost of P26 million with Engineering Partners International;

• Design and supervision for Boitekanelo Training Institute with Engineering Partners International;

• Assistant Site Engineer for Bokomo Mills Warehouse, Gaborone, with Murray & Roberts.

it was during his time there that he did the first major project of his career. He was on site on a project in Gaborone – Bokomo Mills in Gaborone West. “That project was an engineering system all of its own,” says Moseki. “Because you had a lot of concrete works and a lot of steel work as well because the building was a four-level structure of steel columns and beams with concrete slabs. We had underground concrete channels, a bit of rail and concrete pavement throughout the plot.”

Moseki says he was also fortunate to have been put in charge of the steel subcontractor for the purpose of speeding up the work. The experience gave him a great appreciation of steel works, spe-cifically what you can get out of using steel, how you can deal with issues that come up on site and also the precision that is required when you’re cre-ating steel fabrications.

He then left the private sector to join the Depart-ment of Building and Engineering Services (DBES). Initially, he joined the department with the hope of getting sponsorship to further his education but after four years working there he realised it was never going to happen. However, he did grow from the experience in other ways:

P.O. Box 1047, Mogoditshane Gaborone Plot 23 & 24 Mogoditshane Industrial Tel: (267) 397 4907 Fax: (267) 390 1748

...Quality guaranteed

Prefabricated trusses now made in BotswanaManufacturers of Channels, Purlins, Battens & Trusses

Benefits of working with Dezzo Roofing solutions: » Light-weight aluminium and zinc coated steel » Custom-made to installation coated steel requirements » Sure economical and cost effective solutions » A locally based, citizen owned company manufacturing

zinc aluminium, lightweight roofing systems in Botswana. » Designed by registered professional structural engineers » No rotting, warping or terminte infestation » Corrosion-resistant » Lightweight - easily transported in knock down kit form or

assembled » Ideal for Residential, Civic, and Industrial buildings

the discipline.

His first project with EPI, which remains one of the most significant of his career, was the construction of Tlotlo Hotel and Conference Centre, on which he was responsible for design and supervision. “The challenges that you come across in a build-ing project were quite evident with the hotel,” says Moseki. “Tlotlo was basically a low bearing wall system building combined with concrete frames which are your columns and your beams and the challenge wasn’t the issue of structural design. It was mostly the supervision at implementation stage. This is where you have a project that needs to be delivered quickly and you have a contractor that you were not involved in selecting but you have to supervise him. Ideally as an engineer you want to have been involved in detailing the plans beforehand so that during the construction pro-cess it’s a matter of just inspecting to make sure that you’re plans are being realised. But that’s not always what happens.”

The project involved a great deal of adapting to unfamiliar circumstances but Moseki ultimately grew from the experience: “It opened my eyes a lot and helped me gain a lot of important expe-

Working at DBES was also significant because in that position he had to oversee the work of various professionals from the private sector: “Basically at DBES it’s like you’re the boss to the outside guys so you need to be alert of what you’re doing all the time because you’re constantly dealing with busi-ness people and when you get an opportunity to lead them you need to be at a level above them.”

After leaving DBES, Moseki spent two years work-ing for Intech Engineers based at the Ministry of Local Government’s project management office, the Project Implementation Unit where, he was engaged strictly in project management work.

Finally, in 2011, Moseki became a partner in the private firm Engineering Partners International. EPI is a partnership between three engineers, one structural engineer and two water engineers. Moseki says the dream is for it to grow into a complete engineering firm containing profes-sionals across all the different specialisations of

rience. Some mistakes I made on that project I’ll be sure to never make again. As the first project I did on my own it was an important learning curve for me.”

Moseki is currently the Director of Engineering Partners International and he has been engaged in a number of projects spanning across residen-tial developments, retail centres and warehouses and most recently he was responsible for the de-sign and supervision of the Boitekanelo Training Institute in Gaborone. Moseki sees his overriding passion for his vocation as the key to his success:

“In this line of work you need to put yourself in a position where you have interest and ownership of the projects you’re dealing with because structural engineering is a sensitive field in that we are deal-ing with peoples’ safety. We are putting up struc-tures which are going to house lives so you can’t approach this profession as simply a job. You have to see it as a responsibility and a privilege.”

Page 5: Boidus Focus - Vol 4, Issue 7 [Aug 2014]

BOIDUS FOCUSAugust 2014

Boidus FeaturePage 5

The history of rail transportation in Botswana stretches back for over a century with the con-struction of a single railway line that traverses Botswana from Ramatlabama in the South to Ba-karanga in the North, originally built as part of Be-chuanaland Railway Company’s line from Vryburg (South Africa) to Bulawayo (Zimbabwe). However it was only in 1986 that the Government of Bo-tswana established Botswana Railways through an Act of Parliament and the following year this entity took over operation of the 641km railway line that runs through Botswana from the National Rail-ways of Zimbabwe. Botswana Railways began by offering freight, container terminal, passenger and parcel (blue mark) services (though the passenger-train service would be discontinued in 2009).

In the face of Botswana Railways’ poor perfor-mance, a decision was taken to review an Act of Parliament aimed at rescuing the struggling para-statal. The 2004 Botswana Railways Act was en-acted to, amongst other things, allow Botswana Railways to exploit its real estate assets in order to boost its revenue. Out of this came BR Proper-ties, a subsidiary established to exploit the value of Botswana Railways’ land assets, which officially began its operations in 2007.

“This company was established, firstly to unlock the value of BR land because it surfaced that BR has a lot of land, especially along the railway re-serve and along main stations so something had to be done to exploit its value,” says Zhikhwa. “The other aspect is that BR wanted to deal with their core business, which is rail and freight transporta-tion, and they wanted a company that would take care of their land and buildings for operational purposes. We are effectively managing BR prop-erties in support of their core operations.”

With regards to unlocking land value, the first ma-jor project the company undertook was the de-velopment of a retail centre, built on the roughly 8-hectare-sized Botswana Railways land, plot 4716, next to the Gaborone Bus Rank, and opened in 2012. Rail Park Mall is a first-of-its-kind PPP built and run in partnership between BR Properties, Botswana Railways and several private entities. A Special Purpose Vehicle company named JTTM was formed in partnership between BR Proper-ties, BIFM, Eris Properties Botswana, Larney Invest-ments and Botswana Railways to develop on land

WE OFFER THE FOLLOWING

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND BOOKINGS PLEASE CONTACT:

ANNA

» PROJECT MANAGEMENT » CONTRACTS MANAGEMENT » SITE MANAGEMENT » ROADS/BUILDINGS MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT » TENDERING & ESTIMATING » ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS

SKILL DEVELOPMENT - CERTIFICATE COURSES:

Registered with PPADB and EDD

100% Proudly Botswana

CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT TRAINING ACADEMY

EMAIL: [email protected]: 393 5188 FAX: 390 1376

FIRST TRAINING (Pty.) Ltd.

BR Properties - Botswana’s first Parastatal Property Investment Subsidiaryby Kibo Ngowi

Botswana Railways had agreed to release on a 40-year lease. “The strategy of Botswana Railways has been retention of land so the only way we could go into partnership was through leasing out the plot for a period of time,” explains Zhikhwa.

“The partnership with the private sector served to supplement the equity financing Botswana Railways could provide and to leverage on the expertise of the private sector on the development, design and management of a retail centre.” The development is currently managed by Khumo Properties but BR Properties are to take over in the near future.

From an operational perspective, BR Proper-ties has refurbished BR staff houses in Selibe Phikwe, Francistown, and Gaborone, as well as the Guesthouse and the Training Centre in Fran-cistown. The company has also built houses for Botswana Railways track workers in Otse as part of its mandate of effectively managing Botswa-na Railways real estate. However, beyond this role the company has ambitions of becoming a high-value real estate investor.

Zhikhwa says they are currently doing a land assessment to identify opportunities and so far they have identified potential sites such as one in Francistown where they are considering a commercial development; around the Shashe River and in Palapye where they are considering agro-businesses subject to feasibility assess-ments. Preliminary investigations are also taking place in Lobatse and Mahalapye, home of the Botswana Railways Headquarters.

However, the Achilles Heel that has stunted the growth of the organisation thus far has to do with funding. Since its establishment BR Proper-ties has regularly received funding from Botswa-na Railways for its operations rather than being given an upfront capital injection, and Zhikhwa

admits that this model has made it hard for the company to stand on its own.

The MD identifies this as a lesson that other government entities with ambitions of estab-lishing similar companies can learn from. Many have visited BR Properties for benchmarking purposes including the Councils of Ngami, Gaborone and Francistown and the National Railways of Zimbabwe. The growing pains BR Properties is experiencing can optimistically be seen as paving the way for the future ef-forts of others.

CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE

BR PROPERTIES TIMELINE2004 – In the face of Botswana Railways’ poor performance, Botswana Rail-ways Act is enacted to, amongst other things, allow the parastatal to exploit its real estate assets in order to boost its revenue.

2007 – BR Properties, a subsidiary established to exploit the value of Botswana Railways’ land assets and to effectively manage Botswana Railways’ properties in support of the parastatal’s core operations, officially begins its operations.

2012 – Rail Park Mall, a first-of-its-kind PPP, built on the roughly 8-hectare-sized piece of Botswana Railways land next to the Gaborone Bus Rank, is officially opened. The retail centre is built by a Special Purpose Vehicle Company formed in partnership between BR Properties, Botswana Railways, and several private enti-ties, on land Botswana Railways had agreed to release on a 40-year lease.

2014 – BR Properties is in the process of restructuring its operations into four different business lines: Asset management, development management, property management and facilities management. Land assessment to identify opportu-nities currently underway and potential sites already identified in Francistown, around the Shashe River and in Palapye. Preliminary investigations also underway in Lobatse and Mahalapye.

But it would be wrong to write off BR Properties just yet. The company is currently undergoing re-structuring and the main change has to do with developing organisational capacity and clarity of its service offerings. “What we’ve identified is that it’s important for the structure of an organisation to be clearly aligned to its mandate and strategy, hence the need for clear service offerings rather

than just lumping services together,” says Zhikhwa. The restructuring will see BR Properties separat-ing its operations into four different business lines: Asset management, development management, property management and facilities management.

Currently, the company employs around 17 per-sonnel, beginning with the MD who runs the day-to-day operations of BR Properties and an-swers to the Board of Directors. Below her is the Property Manager who also serves as the Board Secretary, followed by senior personnel deal-ing with development, estates, credit control, accounts and administration. The restructuring will see the staff complement becoming more focused around the four business lines.

In spite of the challenges, Zhikhwa states that BR Properties is aiming to be amongst the top 5 com-

“This company was established, firstly to unlock the value of BR land because it surfaced that BR has a lot of land, especially along the railway reserve and along main stations so something had to be done to exploit its value,” says Zhikhwa. “The other aspect is that BR wanted to deal with their core business, which is rail and freight transportation, and they wanted a company that would take care of their land and buildings for operational purposes. We are effectively managing BR properties in support of their core operations.”

panies within the property industry in the next 3 years (following an in-house survey through which industry professionals identified the top 5 devel-opment and management firms and found BR Properties does not feature) and if her organisa-tion can attain this feat it will be a major coup, not just for Botswana Railways, but for the Botswana Government and the region as a whole.

Page 6: Boidus Focus - Vol 4, Issue 7 [Aug 2014]

BOIDUS FOCUSAugust 2014

Boidus Feature / SustainabilityPage 6

by Kibo Ngowi

Meet three of Botswana’s best rising engineers: Matlhodi Keaikitse CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE

When Matlhodi Keaikitse was a Pre-entry Science Course student at the University of Botswana, he had a choice between pursuing architecture, me-chanical engineering or civil engineer-ing, because these were the options for which he could gain government sponsorship. Many who knew him as-sumed that he would opt for mechani-cal because, from a young age, he had shown a keen interest in mechanical things such as cars.

“What they didn’t realise was that most of the machinery I was interested in actually had to do with Civil Engineer-ing because they were the machines that one would use for construction,” muses Keaikitse.“We all grow up seeing roads and bridges and concrete struc-tures holding things up but I always had an intrinsic interest in finding out how these things are actually designed. I was fascinated by the science of cre-ating the infrastructure that is so vital to the development of countries. From that perspective I found Civil Engineer-ing to be very interesting and that’s why I chose it.”

Keaikitse says he has never once regret-ted that decision and when one consid-ers his impressive career it’s not hard to tell why. He’s currently the Director and 50% shareholder in Ezra’s Contracting Services, an engineering firm he co-founded that currently employs more than a dozen permanent staff and has been responsible for several significant projects, including one for his alma ma-ter, valued at P17 million. However, to understand how Keaikitse managed to come this far, one has to begin at his entry into the engineering industry.

As a fresh University graduate, he joined CPP Botswana as a Junior Design Engineer, in 2001. During the course of his five years with the company he was promoted to Design Engineer and then to Resident Engineer; in the latter role he was tasked with overseeing a project valued at P18million which took a year

and a half to complete – the Molopo-lole Magistrate Court. He was respon-sible for supervising the construction of a single-storey court building with a basement, reinforced concrete frame, masonry cladding, steel roof trusses and institutional housing. Civil works under his supervision included, domes-tic water reticulation, sewerage, fire, storm water drainage and an internal road network.

In 2005, he left CPP to become the Bo-tswana Country Manager for Grund-fos, the largest producer of pumps, by volume, in the world. In this role he was responsible for the management and monitoring of product specifica-tion and sizing for ultra deep borehole dewatering pumps used in the Orapa and Letlhakane Mines. Amongst other things, he also provided product train-ing to all local distributors, contractors, engineering consultants, mining engi-neers and other stakeholders. He was with the company for three years.

Finally, in 2007 Keaikitse took the bold step of establishing his own firm. He

Name: Matlhodi KeaikitseAge: 39Firm: Ezra’s Contracting ServicesQualifications: Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the University of Botswana (UB)Key Projects: • Project Manager on the construction of the University of Botswana

Boundary Wall at a cost of P17 million with Ezra’s Contracting Services;

• Resident Engineer on the construction of the Molopolole Magistrate Court at a cost of P18 million with CPP Botswana;

• Botswana Country Manager responsible for management and monitoring of product specification and sizing for ultra deep borehole dewatering pumps used in the Orapa and Letlhakane mines with Grundfos.

“...I was fascinated by the science of creating the infrastructure that is so vital to the development of countries. From that perspective I found Civil Engineering to be very interesting and that’s why I chose it.”

and his uncle Ezra registered Ezra’s Contracting Services with PPDAB and by the end of that year they had their first project: a road maintenance and cattle chasing tender for the road be-tween Kanye and Jwaneng.

However, their most significant project to date came in 2009 when the firm was contracted to build a four and a half ki-lometre stretch of boundary wall for the University of Botswana at a cost of P17 million on which Keaikitse served as the Project Manager. Ezra’s Contracting Services has also been responsible for maintenance work on Tsabong Com-munity Secondary School, valued at P5 million, and they are currently engaged in maintenance work on Mogorosi Community Junior Secondary School in Serowe, valued at P8 million.

The company also owns a road con-

struction plant in Francistown which they frequently hire out to other con-tractors. Keaikitse explains that the de-cision to keep the plant in Francistown is strategic: “We’ve deliberately kept it in Francistown, though our offices are in Gaborone, because most of the civil engineering firms have their offices and their plants based around the Capital City. So we decided to keep ours in Fran-cistown for clients in that area and it has helped us because we’ve generally been able to keep our plant busy.” The plant has been hired out for use on several projects, including the Francistown-To-nota road and the Nata-Kazungula road.

When questioned on what experiences have moulded him into the capable and successful engineer that he is to-day, Keaikitse explains that there is no substitute for experience. “I would say that as an engineer, especially in the construction field, experience is crucial, which is why firms tend to only hire en-gineers with a high amount of experi-ence for senior project roles. And that’s understandable to me, because as much as you can go to school and read books, there’s no substitute for actu-ally being involved in a project. There’s so much more to learn outside of the books. The books are just an eye-open-er to help you understand what there really is to learn and look out for when you’re out there.”

Whether by fate or design, Keaikitse be-lieves that the different roles he played during the course of his career were perfectly aligned to facilitate his devel-opment as an all-round Civil Engineer:

“What has really helped me in my ca-reer is that I went through various stages. I started off as a Junior Design Engineer, which means I got to practice the theory behind design. And then I went through the process of being a Supervising engineer which allowed me to gain experience overseeing all the elements involved in the construc-tion process. And now having started my own firm, I’ve also had the experi-ence of engineering on the side of the contractor because the experience of running a project for a profit is another skill to be appreciated. So I think hav-ing gone through these various experi-ences has helped to round me up and to develop a more holistic approach to the profession of engineering.”

Starting blocks with climate change

SUSTAINABILITY TODAY

by Phenyo Motlhagodi

I was recently approached by someone who was preparing to attend a leadership summit in China, focusing mainly on Climate Change. The person was eager to find out my thoughts on the most pressing issues of Botswana society. Our conversation got me thinking about why I have spent the last four years dedicating a huge chunk of my content, on radio and on print, to sustainability. It has simply been to create awareness about Climate Change. Media plays a crucial role here but one cannot do it alone and unfortunately we lack the people on the ground that can help make this dream a reality.

Before any policy or guiding paper on adaptation and mitigation of Climate Change can be put into practice, the nation desperately needs a Climate Change Awareness Campaign. This should be at the heart of the Ministry of Wildlife, Environment and Tourism, the Ministry of Water, Energy and Recourses and the Department of Metrological Services. There are many other stakeholders such as the Poverty and Environment Initiative and the UNDP who should already be working together to influence national policy.

While Botswana’s participation in the annual Climate Change Confer-ence of Parties and its hosting of the Sustainability Conference in Ga-borone by his Excellency the President presents a unique opportunity for Climate Change awareness, it is in the best interest of the different Government and international units that I have mentioned to have a long term awareness campaign that is linked to the legacy of all these events through media.

I have a simple media man’s approach to the challenge: social mo-bilisation and stakeholder engagement are central to Government’s thinking around national awareness. I must stress that this needs to be done way before any policy can be put in place. The ideal is for messaging to reach the entire nation with the objective of creating awareness of the causes and effects of Climate Change and to mobilise businesses, households and stakeholders to build Climate Resilience. Where as Climate Change and issues around Sustainability have been thought to be discussions for certain social classes, it ought to have nation wide representation and this is where the challenge is bound to be. Social inequalities will relate directly with the appropriateness of the various messaging. Climate Change impacts are felt disproportion-ately by the poor, who contribute relatively little to the causes, while behaviour change by the affluent has a significant role to play in im-pact reduction. It is important to acknowledge the different audiences and assume relevant media channels, use of public art and outdoor advertising to build ownership and establish brand identity.

The University of Botswana has on occasion held stakeholder forums around Climate Change and sadly; they seem to come and go with the dates of the annual Climate Change Conference of Parties. In any case, what we lack is the structured involvement of organised business and labour unions, sponsors, MEDIA, NGOs and the rest of civil society in partnership with Government for any communication and mobilisa-tion campaign to be effective. Across the boarder into South African, their strategy has been very precise: creation of Climate Change ori-entated lesson plans and competitions for schools, water, energy con-servation and recycling programmes for residents, as well as advocacy projects linked to urban and sustainable agriculture initiatives for com-munities. Now it seems we have all these elements in place, just lack-ing in structure and coordination that directs everyone in the nation.

Having built awareness of climate issues and threats, it is important to than convert this into real action to mitigate greenhouse gas emission and to prepare communities for inevitable changes resulting from a changing climate. This is the opposite of preparation for the inevitable without serious awareness and engagement. Communication will be essential in encouraging business commitment to lowering carbon emissions and improving sustainability, as well as directing people to-wards concrete initiatives in which they can participate in.

Climate Change will not be dealt with overnight. Its messaging should be an early start-long term initiative with linkage to future policy and the legacy of all associated projects and programmes across industry.

Page 7: Boidus Focus - Vol 4, Issue 7 [Aug 2014]

BOIDUS FOCUSAugust 2014

Boidus FeaturePage 7

Reliance Office Supplies

We are Botswana’s leading corporate furniture supplier and have been in operation since 1989. We hold the exclusive Botswana franchise for CN Business Furniture, the prestigious South African company with 9 branches in South Africa.

Having worked for years with interior designers, corporate layout specialists and on large corporate projects, we have now rebranded and redesigned our own space here in Gaborone. Whilst in the past we relied on catalogues and design software to display our furni-ture to customers, we now have a dedicated showroom to display our ranges in all their full-size glory.

Please allow us the opportunity to welcome you into our working haven and to introduce you to our ranges of: executive and opera-tor desking and seating; reception furniture; soft seating; board-room furniture; screens and partitions; training and educational furniture; restaurant, cafe and canteen furniture and storage and filing systems.

Our furniture is of the highest quality, with most products holding a 5 year warranty. We showcase ranges for all budgets including pieces designed and imported from Italy. We provide delivery and installation, so that you can order in the knowledge that your fur-niture will be set-up in your office to your exacting specifications.

We understand that you spend an average of 264 days at work each year. Let us help you spend those days surrounded by the beautiful office furniture you deserve.

www.cnonline.co.bw

RELIANCE OFFICE SUPPLIES (PTY) LTD t/a CN (Cecil Nurse) BUSINESS FURNITUREPlot 1247, Haile Selassie Rd, Old Industrial, Gaborone | P.O. Box 1084 Mogoditshane, Botswana | Tel: +267 3956578 | Fax: 3974377 | Email: [email protected]

Thapong Visual Arts Centre Gets a Faceliftby Kibo Ngowi

Several private companies and one government department have sponsored the construction and refurbishment of key structures at the Thapong Visual Arts Centre that will help elevate the venue’s prominence as a location for Gaborone art lovers to congregate.

Thapong Visual Arts Centre was established in 1998 and the follow-ing year the National Museum gave Thapong a piece of land in the Village neighbourhood of Gaborone as a location to house their fa-cilities. The land was in the National Museum’s possession as it was originally the home of the British High Commissioner to Botswana and is thus considered a national heritage site.

The house is now being used as Thapong’s main gallery and last year DTC Botswana sponsored its refurbishment. Around the same time the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture sponsored the construction of an additional gallery on the premises which doubles as an admin-istration block, along with a fully paved parking lot; FNBB sponsored the construction of a café while De Beers sponsored the construc-tion of a new fence; Plascon provided the paint for the buildings and Collegium provided the furniture. The construction process began in October last year and was completed in May this year.

On the 7th of August the official opening of the studios, the gallery and the café will take place and the Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture Hon. Vincent T. Seretse will be on hand for the occasion.

Page 8: Boidus Focus - Vol 4, Issue 7 [Aug 2014]

BOIDUS FOCUSAugust 2014

Guest ColumnistPage 8

by Tshepiso Motlogelwa, Interior Designer

Lifestylenoted: Design an Inspiring Inte-rior You Love to Live In!

MAIN BRANCH (Gaborone)Tel: 3933154/164Fax: 3933167Cell: 71598499, 75665656Plot 20596 Block 3 (next to Sefalana)

www.masterjoinerybw.com

Specialists in:•prefabricatedhousing,office,classroom&tuckshop

•dry-wallpartition•aluminiumproducts•woodenproducts•hardwarestore•shop-fittings•garagedoors

Our high tech computerized machines enables us to manufacture locally[moulding machine, cutting machine, wrap oven, drilling machine]

We manufacture, supply, and fit to meet your demands on all types of Joinery and Aluminium products.

APPRECIATIONS FROM TWINCO ENTERPRISESBHC, Lobatse Geography Bureau, Lobatse Mental Hospital, Lobatse Sports Stadium, SSKIA, F/town Airport, University of Botswana, I.H.S. Molepolole, Mogoditshane BDF, Glenn Valley BDF, Rakhuna BDF Camp, Gumare Primary School, Lobatse/Kanye City Council, Ministry of Trade, Kasane Muwana Lodge & many other clients.

Prefab cabins built on site

Counters, Aluminium (I.H.S. Molepolole)

Fireplaces, Kitchen cabinetry, Wardrobes

Hand crafted wooden doors and panels

Deciding to build a new home is an exciting mo-ment that is usually followed by a period of deci-sion-making, accompanied by a great deal of anxi-ety regarding whether the choices you make will be cost effective while still achieving your desired effect. It can quickly begin to feel like you’re out of your depth and drowning.

Whether you are a first time builder or a veteran, you want to feel confident, in control, and certain about your design and decoration choices. For most us, this will be one of our biggest invest-ments, so it’s important to make sure you will be happy with the finished product.

You might be keen to try designing and styling your home yourself, or perhaps you’d only be satisfied with a professional level of style and so-

phistication. Either way, an interior designer can help you avoid common mistakes and ensure the building process enhances your life and produces a result you and your visitors will rave about. I was recently approached by a young couple who were in the process of building their first home. They knew exactly what they wanted but trying to convey their ideas to different suppliers and sub-contractors was a major source of sleepless nights and uncertainty as they constantly worried they would not end up with anything satisfactory. The decision to hire a professional interior designer is entirely up to you but it’s a decision that will save you lots of money and many sleepless nights! A well planned out space is vital in order to get optimal use of the space available.

Floor finishes, wall finishes, upholstery fabrics and accessories have to be selected with care, as they all play an important role in achieving a well synchronized scheme.

A well thought out design scheme en-sures that you end up with a space that has all the elements of design.

It is important to have a well balanced colour scheme that will not bore or over-whelm you with time.

A design professional can help you achieve a minimalistic look with pops of colour.

Page 9: Boidus Focus - Vol 4, Issue 7 [Aug 2014]

ClassifiedsBOIDUS FOCUSProperty | August 2014

ADVERTORIAL UPCOMING DEVELOPMENTS FEATURE

Talk to one of our HOME LOANS Relationship Officers today:

Masego Mosimayanet +267 371 9727

e [email protected]

Dintle Jamest +267 371 9730

e [email protected]

BancABC Home LoansA loan offered to customers to purchase for residential purpose.

The Loan term is selected by the customer (minimum repayment term being 7 years and maximum being 20 years). The monthly installment is deducted directly from the current account or by direct debit from another bank.

QUALIFYING CRITERIA• Proof of Income (payslip)• Bank Statements for six months• Omang (Citizens)• Passports (Non-Citizens)• Work and Residence Permit (Non-Citizens)• Employment Contract (this contract should be updated as and

when the contract is renewed)• Proof of Physical Address (Current utility bill), not older than

three months.

QUALIFYING CONDITIONS• Minimum loan amount - P100,000• The maximum loan period is 20 years/240 months Interest rate

- Linked to prime.• BancABC will finance up to 100% of the Open Market Value

(Terms and Conditions apply)

BENEFITS• Variable interest rates• Flexible repayment periods• Option to re-mortgage your property

T: +267 371 9732/30/27 | Fax: +267 390 0017W: www.bancabc.co.bwAfrican Banking Corporation of Botswana Limited, with registration number: 86/384 BancABC House, Plot 62433, Fairgrounds Office Park, Gaborone, Botswana

Add on options at LouieVille Gabz North:

1 Concrete Boundary Wall with MS Gate P800 per meter for the wall and P8,500 for the gate

2 Swimming Pool with filters electricals and creepy crawley/barracuda

P1500 per cubic meter + equipment 4X4 square pool P25,000 6X4 pool P35,000 8X4 pool P45,000 12X6 pool P75,000

3 Lapa with concrete floor P1000 per sq meter 4X4 lapa P16,000 6X4 lapa P24,000 8X4 lapa P32,000

4 Lawn with landscaping Basic pods lawn P30 per sq meter Ready lawn P40 per sq meter Pod lawn with landscaping P50 per sq meter Ready lawn with landscaping and rock feature P60 per square

meter All prices exclude VAT

LouieVille Gabz North An Excellent Investment Opportunity A Gated Luxury Community Lifestyle

Opposite Phakalane, along A1 Highway Freehold Land,105 Independent Villas Gated Estate, 24x7 Security CCTV Cameras, Central Park Swimming Pool, Club House & Gym Pool & Table Tennis Room Mini Basket Ball & Football Court Kids Jungle gym

LouieVille Gabz North An Excellent Investment Opportunity A Gated Luxury Community Lifestyle

Opposite Phakalane, along A1 Highway Freehold Land,105 Independent Villas Gated Estate, 24x7 Security CCTV Cameras, Central Park Swimming Pool, Club House & Gym Pool & Table Tennis Room Mini Basket Ball & Football Court Kids Jungle gym

Opposite Phakalane, along A1 Highway Freehold Land,105 Independent Villas Gat-ed Estate, 24x7 Security CCTV Cameras, Central Park Swimming Pool, Club House & Gym Pool & Table Tennis Room Mini Basket Ball & Football Court Kids Jungle gym

Louieville Gabz North - Available housesNo. Model Size (sqm) Rooms Land size (sqm)

1 Custom Size Bun-galows

300 to 375 4/5 bed gym/maids quarters etc 700+

2 LouieVille Palace 275 5 bed or 4 bed with maids quarters 700

3 LouieVille Castle 250 5 bed or 4 bed with maids quarters 700

4 LouieVille Chateau 225 4 bed or 3 bed with maids quarters 600

5 LouieVille Mansion 200 4 bed or 3 bed with maids quarters 600

6 LouieVille Manor 175 3 bedrooms 500

7 LouieVille Crest 150 3 bedrooms 500

8 LouieVille Villa 130 3 bedrooms 500

An Excellent Investment OpportunityA Gated Luxury Community Lifestyle

LouieVille Gabz North No: Model Sizes in Sq mts Rooms Land size sqmts

1 Custom Size Bungalows 300 to 375 4/5 bed gym/maids quarters etc 700+ sqmts 2 LouieVille Palace 275 sqmts 5 bed or 4 bed with maids quarters 700 3 LouieVille Castle 250 sqmts 5 bed or 4 bed with maids quarters 700 4 LouieVille Chateau 225 sqmts 4 bed or 3 bed with maids quarters 600 5 LouieVille Mansion 200 sqmts 4 bed or 3 bed with maids quarters 600 6 LouieVille Manor 175 sq mts 3 bedrooms 500 7 LouieVille Crest 150 sq mts 3 bedrooms 500 8 LouieVille Villa 130 sqmts 3 bedrooms 500

LouieVille Gabz North No: Model Sizes in Sq mts Rooms Land size sqmts

1 Custom Size Bungalows 300 to 375 4/5 bed gym/maids quarters etc 700+ sqmts 2 LouieVille Palace 275 sqmts 5 bed or 4 bed with maids quarters 700 3 LouieVille Castle 250 sqmts 5 bed or 4 bed with maids quarters 700 4 LouieVille Chateau 225 sqmts 4 bed or 3 bed with maids quarters 600 5 LouieVille Mansion 200 sqmts 4 bed or 3 bed with maids quarters 600 6 LouieVille Manor 175 sq mts 3 bedrooms 500 7 LouieVille Crest 150 sq mts 3 bedrooms 500 8 LouieVille Villa 130 sqmts 3 bedrooms 500

Central Club House

An ODE, E-MAN Enterprise

www.louieville-horizons.com

An ODE, E-MAN Enterprise

Add on options at LouieVille Gabz North:1. Concrete Boundary Wall with MS Gate2. Swimming Pool with filters electricals and

creepy crawley/barracuda3. Lapa with concrete floor4. Lawn with landscaping

Page 10: Boidus Focus - Vol 4, Issue 7 [Aug 2014]

ClassifiedsBOIDUS FOCUSAugust 2014 | Home Improvement

Sponsored bySponsored byDIY Projects - How to Plan and Post a Perfect Pergola

Pergolas can be the perfect backyard oasis, but they’re also fun to build. They’re a perfect blend of big honkin’ timbers, some pretty neat carpentry and a little landscaping thrown in for good measure. The simple combination of posts and open rafters is ideal for highlighting entrances, masking storage areas, providing privacy and especially creating some shade. I built this one as a focal point for an outdoor dining area—and to reclaim an unused patch of the backyard. [Source: popularmechanics.com]

1 A Toro Dingo’s 16-inch auger makes short work of straight, 40-inch-deep holes for footings, or whatever depth will reach below frost line in your climate. For drain-age, pour and pack 4 inches of gravel into the holes before installing the posts.

2 To lay out posthole locations, build a 2 x 8 frame. Its inside corners mark the four posts. Dig a small trench, level the frame, then re-move it to dig the holes. Next, replace the frame, set the posts and fasten them to the sides of the frame so they’ll stay plumb.

3 After fastening the posts to the frame, in-stall 2 x 4 angle braces from the frame to the posts. These will keep the posts from twisting or warping before the rafters go up and lock the posts in place for backfill-ing. You can remove the braces later.

4 Posthole depth varies. It’s best to install the posts long and trim them to final height, measuring from the frame upward. Finish the circular-saw cut with a handsaw, then install a cleat 6 inches down (inset) to hold the girders while fastening.

5 Temporarily set the girders with deck screws above the cleats, then install the through-bolts in the girders and posts. Allow the girder to rise above the post an inch or so in case you decide to run wire for lights or power.

6 Cut the rafter tails on the ground, then mark their 18-inch cantilevers against the posts. After wedging one end up top, walk the other end up the ladder. Toe-screw the rafters to the girders using a 3-inch deck screw.

7 A 2 x 4 rafter stay atop the rafters every 24 inches adds the right detail while hold-ing the rafters in place. Install stays over the girders first, then over the rafters. Af-ter two coats of tinted oil-based stain, add a layer of sod, then a table and chairs.

Page 11: Boidus Focus - Vol 4, Issue 7 [Aug 2014]

ClassifiedsBOIDUS FOCUSProducts | August 2014

Page 12: Boidus Focus - Vol 4, Issue 7 [Aug 2014]

ClassifiedsBOIDUS FOCUSAugust 2014 | Products

ED LIGHTS is not only a highly exclusive, designer inspired, modern lighting distribu-tor it is also a phenomenon in Botswana. Our ever expanding product range provides lighting solutions to most sectors and is popular in homes, offices, retail spaces, manufacturing and hospitality environments across the country.

Our range of light fittings represents the most unique style available globally with ingenious innovative ideas to save energy. Quality and safety requirements are en-shrined in the ethics codes of ED LIGHTS. We ensure our customers receive the best by complying with world class quality and safety standards.

Unit 10, Western Industrial EstateBDC Complex, Block 3 Industrial, GaboroneTel: 391 3506 | Fax: 391 3864Email: [email protected] www.edlights.co.bw

Specialists in LED LIGHTS and ENERGY SAVING LAMPS

Crystal Chandelier Lights | Modern Kitchen Lights | Driveway Lights | Garden Lights | LED Strip Lights | Living Room Lights

Suppliers of: Architectural, Commercial, Domestic and Industrial LightingServices offered: Lighting Layouts & Designs, Technical Expertise, and Lighting Consulting

OPEN ON SUNDAYS

All light fittings carry a one year warranty.

Page 13: Boidus Focus - Vol 4, Issue 7 [Aug 2014]

BOIDUS FOCUSAugust 2014

AdvertorialPage 13

A new housing complex coming to Gaborone’s Maru-A-Pula area...

Sage ConsultingPinagare EngineersElectrics BotswanaGaam AssociatesRed East Construction

• TheproposedApartmentswillbeahigh class, high cost apartmentsthatwilltargettheuppermarket.• Thedevelopmentconsistsof4blockseachwith60apartmentson5storeyswithviews into the

neighboring Gaborone game reserve.• Basementparkingensurestheresidentsgetauniqueexperiencewithlarge landscaped open areaswhichwillhouseaclub house, swimming poolandchildren’s play area.

• Theapartmentswillbehavehigh quality finishesincludingporcelainfloorandwalltiles,highclassfittedkitchensandwardrobes,plushbathroomsandmodernconveniences.

• Alargeconvenience storeandtakeawayfastfoodoutletarealsoprovidedwithinthecampustoservetheresidents.

A 36,000 sqm campus in the Maru A Pula Area, central Gaborone, providing convenient access to the CBD, Main Mall, schools, Hospitals and other facilities.

Page 14: Boidus Focus - Vol 4, Issue 7 [Aug 2014]

BOIDUS FOCUSAugust 2014

Boidus FeaturePage 14

CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE

A Fresh Approach to Building a Home - Inside House Agolen IIby Leago Sebina

With the newly established design and build property development company, specialising in the residential market called Agolen, which hopes to bring a breath of fresh air into the local real estate market with innovative ideas in housing. Late last month, the company held an open house show at the site of its latest development in Gaborone North, Gaborone, ‘House Agolen II’, which indeed captivated the imagina-tion of the invited guests.

Founded and operated by professional architects, Agolen has the fundamental design principles in its core values that help direct its developments, through its subsidiary businesses; H+L DESIGN, H+L BUILD, and H+L PROPERTIES. Ideas are expressed on paper and then inter-rogated and refined through a rigorous design process that takes into account a wide variety of factors and impera-tives, under H+L DESIGN, which offers architectural design services. These ideas are refined, resolved and brought to life in the next stage of the devel-opment through H+L BUILD, which focuses on project management and construction coordination. Since the designers are directly involved in the building process, the refinement and resolution of the design continues into construction. This approach to thede-livery of projects ensures that what has been conceived during design is seam-

lessly realised in the construction phase and clients are assured maximum value from their investment. Last but not least, H+L PROPERTIES deals with land acquisition, sales and leasing of Agolen developments.

The innovation in the design is based on a set of principles that are embodied in every house that is designed and devel-oped. House Agolen II is an example of the residential property products that are synonymous with Agolen. It explores the Adaptive Home Model that has be-come the cornerstone of every concept of houses that are developed, especially at the low tomiddle end of the market. The premise for such an approach is that design should anticipate the future growth of the inhabitants in many facets, be it by numbers of new family mem-bers or financially, by increased house-hold income. As such, when designing a house the strategy begins by recog-nising the two major parts that make a house, which are: the public spaces such as the living room, the kitchen and the

dining room and the private spaces such as the bedrooms.

In addition to the above, there are oth-er utility spaces that serve and support the main spaces such as the garage, the servant’s quarters, the toilets, bath-rooms and storerooms, all of which are crucial to the functioning of the house. These are, in most cases, grouped with-in the two major parts.With awareness of these parts, the house can be moulded to expresses them in its form and image. Thus giv-ing rise to a new style of house de-sign, ‘the contemporary style’, not common in the local market. House Agolen II exhibits these characteristics by containing all the bedrooms in a parapet walled ‘box-like’ form on one side and the articulated ‘butterfly’roof on another, which shelters the public side of the house and comprises of the kitchen, dining room space and the living room space,separated by a textured feature wall. The living room extends to outside through the use of

fully glazed aluminium bi-folding slid-ing doors into the entertainment patio space that connects to the generous garden space, as such blurring the line between inside and outside. The same doors allow the North Easterly prevail-ing winds to naturally cross-ventilate the interior spaces.

The two parts of the house are con-nected by a horizontal plane of a roof slab gutter with a low level ceiling soffit that marks the major circulation spine of the house, beginning at the entrance porch and terminating at the master bedroom, where it marks the place for a bed. In addition, the generous roof gutter slab has another function of har-vesting every single drop of water that falls on the roof surface and collects it to one point for storage. It is anticipat-ed that up to 70,000 litres of water can be harvested on an average rainfall of 500mm per year.

The house is designed to be added on to and grow in size as the needs of the

family evolve over time, especially on the private wing. The fragmented parts of the roof allow for ease of extension in the future to allow for the house to begin with one bedroom and grow to include two bedrooms and ultimately three bedrooms, withthe final addition of the master bedroom.

The use of various building materials with contrasting textures, juxtaposed against each other, such as steel, tim-ber, glass and plastered walls adds to the general ambience of the interior space, as well as the perceived image of the house from outside. The timber sun screens are another tectonic layer to the house and contribute to control-ling light and solar gain, hence achiev-ing goodindoor environmental quality.

The next development of House Ago-len III is in its advanced design stag-eand will commence on –site in the next month with completion aimed for December 2014, culminating with an Open House Event.

Phase 1122.3 sqm

aGOLEN ii PHASED DEVELOPMENT

Phase 1157.5 sqm

Phase 3177.2 sqm

Page 15: Boidus Focus - Vol 4, Issue 7 [Aug 2014]

BOIDUS FOCUSAugust 2014

Education FeaturePage 15

Gaborone is currently the only city in Botswana with tertiary institutions boasting facilities that can educate thousands of students but the newly accredited Botho University is building a large campus in Francistown that could prove to be a game changer for migration patterns influenced by tertiary education options.

Bae Nature EnterprisesT: +267 3901573F: +267 3951441

* Super Garage Door* Bathroom furniture* Wooden hand-crafted doors* REPID Electric heating faucet* Glass blocks

SEFALANABPC BAE NATURE(SUPER POWER DOOR)

NRUMARK ROADWE ARE HERE

Visit us at our shop:

YEM

Stu

dios

WE SUPPLY PROFFESSIONAL AND GOOD SERVICE•Garage door remote control

on special color brown & Silver

•Steel door for different size•Bath tub & Shower room•PVC Ceiling•Tiles & lights

Botho University Builds Francistown Campus

Botho University (BU) has come a long way from its humble beginnings as the computer training institute NIIT established in 1997 to the multidisci-plinary higher learning institution it is today. Botho was awarded the univer-sity status in 2013 and today boasts five faculties, the Faculty of Account-ing and Finance, the Faculty of Com-puting, the Faculty of Business, the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Education and Continuing Studies. Not surprisingly, as IT is the institu-tion’s core strength, their computing faculty is the largest in the country.

The institution started in Francistown but now has a presence in Gaborone

and Maun as well. Gaborone has long been the only location with a fully fledged campus but Botho have set out to change that by building a state-of-the-art campus in Francis-town.

In an interview with Boidus Focus, the Dean of BU’s Campus and Stu-dent Housing Management Office Mr. Satish Murthy Appalla explained that Phase I of the construction of the Francistown campus will kick off with-in the next few months. It will consist of a main building with classrooms, staffrooms, practice rooms, a library, a first aid room, a main reception, and a few other student services. Ad-

ditionally, a large covered courtyard, guard house and sports facilities will be constructed as part of the initial phase which is being built at a cost in excess of P65 million.

The entire first phase will be complet-ed 18 months after commencement but those facilities which do get com-pleted earlier and are deemed fit for occupation may be used before the phase reaches completion. BU cur-rently has over 550 students in Fran-cistown but that number is expected to grow significantly with the new buildings and the entire campus is expected to become fully operational by the third quarter of 2015.

by Kibo Ngowi

“We already attract students from Zimbabwe and across the Southern African region,” says Appalla. “It is part of our strategic plans to have an international student complement. We trust that with the current development, we will be able to attract more students from Zimbabwe and throughout the region and achieve our strategic goals.”

Page 16: Boidus Focus - Vol 4, Issue 7 [Aug 2014]

BOIDUS FOCUSAugust 2014

Professional PracticePage 16

Further to our previous article discussing the JBCC 2000 sixth edition’s removal of works com-pletion, we will, in this edition of Boidus Focus, be looking at certain contract instructions under the sixth edition, in comparison to contract in-structions under the fifth edition.

The fifth edition of the JBCC (edition 5.0 July 2007) defined a “contract instruction” as,

“A written instruction which may include drawings and other construction information signed and issued by or under authority of the principal agent to the contractor.”

The sixth edition defines a “contract instruction” as

“A written instruction issued by or under the authority of the principal agent to the contrac-tor, which may include drawings and other construction information.”

The only difference really (besides the words be-ing shifted around to change the sentence struc-ture) is that there is a definition of “construction information” in the sixth edition, whereas in pre-vious editions, there was not. There are effective-ly no legal ramifications attached to the change in the definition of “contract instruction”.

A contract instruction is issued by or under the authority of the principal agent in both edi-tions. While the authority of the principal agent with regards to delegation of his duties to is-sue contract instructions, and the appointment of agents, differs dramatically between the fifth and sixth editions, this is a topic for another dis-cussion. For the purposes of this article, we shall assume that the principal agent and the agents have been appointed validly under the contract and are authorised to issue contract instructions.

Contract instructions are dealt with in Clause 17.0 of both editions. Clause 17.0 sets out the instances where the principal agent may issue contract instructions to the contractor. It should be remembered that the requirement for the inclusion of a clause such as this is that build-ing contracts differ from almost any other form of contract in one significant respect: that after the parties have agreed on all of the aspects of the contract, the employer requires a contractual provision to enable him to vary the nature and extent of the performance to be rendered by the contractor. The contractor cannot refuse to carry out such varied obligations, and as such, his remedy is an adjustment to the price and/or an extension to the time for completion as a

result of such varied performance. (1)

Given the numerous instances where contract in-structions may be issued by the principal agent in both the fifth and sixth editions, we intend to focus on the new instances where the principal agent may issue a contract instruction which have been introduced in the sixth edition.

A discussion with one of the drafters of the sixth edition highlighted that clause 17.0 has been “rearranged” so that the clauses flow logically from one another. What may not be so obvi-ous from the rearrangement of the clause is that they are arranged into 5 bundles. These bundles are described below. However, the arrangement of the clauses has no legal ramifications and is merely seen to be a cosmetic improvement to the fifth edition.

Bundle 1: rectification of errors (17.1.1);Bundle 2: matters relating to the site and statu-tory compliance (17.1.2 – 17.1.4);Bundle 3: matters relating to the works - quality and completion (17.1.5 – 17.1.12);Bundle 4: expenditure of allowances (17.1.13); andBundle 5: execution of works by others, removal from site etc (17.1.14 – 17.1.20)

Clause 17.1.3: The Site [13.1-2]The first “new” instance that has been introduced into the sixth edition is that the principal agent may issue contract instructions to the contrac-tor regarding the site. Clause 13.0 deals with the setting out of the works. In clause 13.2.4 specifi-cally, the contractor is required to suspend the works appropriately where undocumented ser-vices, natural features, articles of value or relics are uncovered on site, issue a notice to the prin-cipal agent of such uncovering and the principal agent shall issue a contract instruction on how to proceed with the works. This was not contained in the fifth edition and it appears that in this edi-tion, the only remedy to the contractor, should such an uncovering delay the execution of the works, is found under clause 29.3. This clause, however, does not provide for an adjustment of the contract price as a result of such delay. In the sixth edition, with the introduction of the re-quirement that the principal agent shall issue a contract instruction in this regard, the contractor is entitled to a revision to the date for practi-cal completion, and an adjustment to the con-tract value in terms of clauses 29.2.3 and 32.5.1. Contractors should be mindful, however, that the provisions of the remainder of clause 32.0 will still be applicable.

by Euan Massey and Natalie Reyneke

JBCC Contract Instructions

Clause 17.1.11: Rectification of Defects [21.2]

The next “new” instance where the principal agent may issue contract instructions to the con-tractor is found in clause 17.1.11 of the sixth edi-tion – rectification of defects [21.2]. Clause 21.2 states that:

“Where defects have become apparent during the defects liability period the principal agent may instruct the contractor to progressively at-tend to such items, whilst at all time minimis-ing inconvenience to the occupants.”

This process is not contained in the fifth edition. The principal agent may issue a contract instruc-tion regarding the defects list, and the contractor is required to remedy defects once the princi-pal agent issued its defects list at the end of the defects liability period. The inclusion of clause 21.2 in the sixth edition implies that the princi-pal agent may instruct the contractor to remedy defects before the expiry of the defects liability period.

Clause 17.1.15: Termination of a nominated n/s subcontract agreement [27.2.8]

The next “new” addition to the contract instruc-tion family under the sixth edition is found in clause 17.1.15 – termination of a nominated n/s subcontract agreement. Clause 27.2.8 (cross ref-erenced to clause 17.1.5) refers to the instance (under recovery of expense and/or loss) where the employer may recover expense and loss due to termination of a nominated n/s subcontract agreement, which in turn, cross references to clause 14.7.3. Clause 14.7.3 refers to the instance where the n/s subcontractor is terminated due to default or insolvency of the contractor. Clause 14.7.1, however, obliges the principal agent to instruct the contractor to appoint another nominated subcontractor [14.1.4] to complete the nominated subcontract works. It is not clear whether or not this is a misprint in the clause referencing, as clause 17.1.15 should ideally have cross-referenced clause 14.1.4.

Clause 17.1.20: On termination, protection of the works, removal of construction equip-ment and surplus material and goods [29.0]

Clause 37.3.1 of the fifth edition requires the principal agent, upon termination of the agree-ment by the employer due to loss and damage, to issue a contract instruction specifying protec-tive measures necessary to be executed by the contractor before cessation of work. The con-tractor is entitled to recover expense and loss as a result of such instruction, under clause 32.5.1. In the sixth edition, clause 17.1.20 provides that the employer may issue contract instructions to the contractor:

“On termination, protection of the works, re-moval of construction equipment and surplus materials and goods [29.0]”

The sixth edition does not have a separate clause dealing with termination by the employer due to loss or damage to the works. This specific sce-nario is combined into a new “all in one” termi-nation clause (clause 29.0). The applicable sub-clauses of clause 29.0 now makes the ability to terminate the agreement, due to loss or dam-age to the work, reciprocal to both the employer and the contractor and neither party shall be li-able to the other for expense and loss resulting from the termination. Clause 17.1.20 appears to apply to all instances where termination is the appropriate remedy. There does not appear to be a mechanism whereby the contractor will be entitled to claim expense and loss as a result of any such instruction.

The remaining provisions of clause 17.0 (ie. sub-clauses 17.2 – 17.5), while the sentences may be restructured somewhat, provide for no mean-ingful changes to clause 17.0, except that the obligation found under clause 17.5 of the fifth edition (the contractor shall cooperate with and assist the principal agent where execution of a contract instruction could cause an adjustment to the contract value) has been moved to clause 26.1, where the principal agent determines the value of adjustments to the contract value “in cooperation with the contractor”.

Conclusion

We have covered the instances where the princi-pal agent may, in the sixth edition, issue contract instructions to the contractor, which did not ap-pear in the fifth edition. There are other clauses within clause 17.0 that have been modified from the fifth edition to the sixth edition. However, these particular modifications will require an-other few pages of discussion – which we will get around to writing about soon.

Contractors should keep in mind that even though contract instructions are issued by the principal agent, if contractors require a revision to the date for practical completion and an ad-justment to the contract value as a result thereof, clause 23.4 of the sixth edition and clause 29.4 of the fifth edition, still require notice to be given by the contractor in terms of such clauses, failing which, the contractor’s right to claim shall lapse. This too, applies to instances where the contrac-tor has incurred expense and loss due to no fault of his own.

www.boidus.co.bw

(1) The Building Contract: A Commentary on the JBCC Agreements - Eyvind Finsen (1999) Juta at page 109

Page 17: Boidus Focus - Vol 4, Issue 7 [Aug 2014]

BOIDUS FOCUSAugust 2014

Editor’s Note / CommentsPage 17

MANAGING EDITORH. Killion Mokwete

DEPUTY EDITORKibo Ngowi

STAFF WRITERKeeletsang P. Dipheko

DESIGNBridget T. MacKean

ACCOUNTSNgwewabo MokweteSALESTebogo SekwenyaneThabo Sarona

DISTRIBUTIONMartha Rooi

GUEST COLUMNISTSEuan Massey and Natalie ReynekeLeago SebinaPhenyo MotlhagodiReuben LekorweTshepiso MotlogelwaBO

IDU

S TE

AM

The combined wealth of companies cur-rently housed at Gaborone’s Central Busi-ness District (CBD) is estimated to be well over a billion Pula but a stroll around Bo-tswana’s premier location reveals some truly shocking on-the-ground realities.

In an area that houses the headquarters of many of Botswana’s top financial institu-tions and leading law firms, as well as the Judiciary, intelligence services and SADC, the grounds are littered with garbage and men freely urinate in full view of residents and passersby.

Occasionally, shabby looking men emerge out of the untamed bushes with a cloud of smoke hovering above their heads. From the look of things, some of these men, who spend their days loitering in the dark corners of the undergrowth, might be trading in all sorts of illicit goods or even drugs. Broad daylight muggings have oc-casionally been reported and at night the CBD is considered a no go zone due to its lack of safety.

Revellers at the premier Masa Centre, un-willing to pay for the secure underground parking, often have their cars broken into due to a lack of secure street parking. The question then is: How can it be that while earmarked as Gaborone’s new heart of the City, the CBD development remains so uncoordinated, unloved and uncared for? Whose responsibility is it to provide basic amenities and management of the area?

BOIDUS F O C U S SUBSCRIBE NOW

to Botswana’s BUILT ENVIRONMENTN E W S P A P E R

To get your copy delivered to your door, send your details to:

KILLION[GABORONE]t +267 75505291e [email protected]

WADA[FRANCISTOWN]t +267 71480679e [email protected]

www.boidus.co.bwFind Boidus on:

by H. Killion Mokwete, RIBA Chartered Architect

Editor’s Note: Gaborone’s Central Business District (CBD)

What role should the development own-ers, Government and City Council play in nurturing the growth of this prime area in Botswana’s Capital?

In July 2013, Boidus Media launched a stakeholder seminar which brought to-gether key CBD stakeholders including government officials, development own-ers, private investors, industry profession-als, parastatals and invited experts from Sandton City and the University of Cape Town in South Africa to deliberate on the current state and future prospects of our developing CBD.

This year the CBD Executive Seminar will broaden its base by involving some of Bo-tswana’s other important urban centres – Selibe Phikwe, Maun and Francistown. Each of these centres will bring to the seminar presentations aimed at attracting investment partners for their infrastruc-ture and urban projects as well as insight into their CBDs. Botswana’s urban centres are still in their early development stages, compared to the mature CBDs across the world and in the region. It is because of this that we see the need for deliberate steps to be taken to continuously engage all rel-evant stakeholders in a proactive process of shaping their outlook, rather than leav-ing the development of these burgeoning centres to chance. After all, the economies of all developed nations are concentrated in their CBDs, from Dubai to New York to London. Botswana should learn from them.

Comments & Letters

HOW CHINESE URBANISM IS TRANSFORMING AFRI-CAN CITIES

The factory of the world has a new export: urban-ism. More and more Chinese-made buildings, in-frastructure, and urban districts are sprouting up across Africa, and this development is changing the face of the continent’s cities.

Or so says Dutch research studio Go West Proj-ect , who have been tracking this phenomenon for their on-going project about the export of the Chinese urban model to Africa. Since 2012, the group, made up of Shanghai-based architect Daan Roggeveen and Amsterdam-based journal-ist Michiel Hulshof, have visited six African cities to do research. Roggeveen and Hulshof recently released their preliminary report in an issue of Urban China, a magazine focusing on Chinese ur-ban development.

According to the duo, China’s growing economic and political might have made them a significant player in the continent. Not only is it Africa’s single largest trading partner today, China’s practical in-vestment diplomacy—offering buildings, roads, railways, power plants and other infrastructure—has emerged as a powerful alternative to Western development aid that is geared towards reducing poverty instead. This has led to Chinese companies successfully funding and building many new devel-opments in African cities ranging from the head-quarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethio-pia, to the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos, Nigeria.

While many Africans appreciate this much-need-ed development, it is not without its problems, says Roggeven. Many of them fail to relate to the local context, such as the Great Wall Apartments, a residential development in Nairobi, Kenya, con-sisting of residential blocks that look exactly like housing units found across China. Through inter-views with inhabitants and journalists from each city, the team also found that the Chinese urban model presents a paradox for its people.

“On the one hand, China is able to deliver proj-ects, within budget and on time and propels ur-

ban development forward. On the other hand, Chinese companies are able to undercut all other competitors, including locals,” Roggeven ex-plains. “This means African companies are unable to compete. This leads to loss of local jobs and businesses—not only in construction but also in low level jobs like street sellers and construction workers.”

And the impact of Chinese development in Africa is only growing bigger. While Chinese companies used to be involved mainly in construction work, Go West found that they have an increasing say in actual city development today.

“More and more the Chinese are moving up the value chain, where they also design and even develop buildings and parts of cities. These inter-ventions are very often not aligned with the local context, but rather planned top down,” says Rog-geven. “Constructing a building is one thing, but the one initiating the building and designing it is decisive in how a city develops.”

It is not a one-way street for Chinese development in Africa, however. Not only does China face com-petition from the firms of other countries such as India, Brazil, and Turkey, its influence is also curbed by the political and economic strength of each African country. Roggeveen and Hulshof note that the Chinese have only been able to pull off bigger projects in centrally led countries that are less democratic thus far.

But even as the influence of the Chinese in African cities grows, Roggeven is hopeful that such devel-opments will become more sensitive to the needs of the continent.

“It seems the Chinese way of operating will change through time to be able to connect more to local political, economical, social and cultural conditions,” he says, “We have an educated guess this will be essential for the Chinese interventions to be able to survive in Africa in the long run.”

by Justin Zhuang / Source: metropolismag.com

Elisa Engel shared a link with Boidus Botswana:

The Great Wall Apartments, a Chinese style residential compound in Nairobi, Kenya

The LFZ, currently beginning construction, was planned in China

Page 18: Boidus Focus - Vol 4, Issue 7 [Aug 2014]

BOIDUS FOCUSAugust 2014

Professional PracticePage 18

by Reuben Lekorwe*

Factors to Consider When Establishing Sector Regulation

Regulation may be defined as the government function of controlling or directing those activities of enterprises, state as well as the private sector. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has however defined regulation as;

“A full range of legal instruments by which gov-erning institutions at all levels impose obliga-tions or constraints on private sector behaviour”

Whichever definition one adopts, what is clear is that regulation involves the monitoring and con-trolling of a sector, either by the government or any other entity on behalf of the government.

Forms of RegulationRegulation may be classified into two main forms – economic and social. Economic regulation is con-cerned with the regulation of inter alia the following:

• price, • profits,• revenue, • output, • market entry or • Service delivery.

The rationale for economic regulation usually stems from market failure. Such market failure may be manifested in the development of monop-olies or skewed distribution of income, amongst other things. As a result, the government would be required to intervene with some corrective measures. For instance, abuse of monopolies may be prevented by introducing price controls with-out necessarily eroding the profits of the entities concerned.

On the other hand, social regulation focuses on is-sues such as environmental and safety standards, fair treatment of workers and the elimination of discriminatory practices. The list is not exhaus-tive. The purpose of social regulation is to prevent undesirable behaviour, actions or activities while simultaneously fostering and facilitating desirable behaviour.

Reasons to regulateThe reasons for regulating a sector usually include the following:

• To guarantee minimum standards, e.g. pro-tection of interests of consumers, health and safety at work. In this case, regulatory interven-tion keeps consumers safe from a wide range of dangers. Consumers can shop with some measure of trust for the safety and quality of the products.

• To ensure free competition, e.g. cartel busting in relation to price fixing.

• To create standards where none exist.• To protect the environment.• Provision for market entry and control, which

may be carried out through the licensing of new entrants and stipulating the quality of goods the entrant may produce.

Effects of regulationRegulation, if it is more than unnecessary, has what are called unintended consequences that may manifest in the form of;• Inhibited business competitiveness• Heightened job losses• Increased costs of doing business• Reduced investment

The cost of complying with regulations can signifi-cantly impact any sector. Regulatory compliance requires business to expend significant effort on paperwork and training instead of finding ways of minimising costs, improving quality and devel-oping more competitive products. High costs of regulation may also force companies to reduce their workforce as way reducing costs. Care must therefore be taken by the regulator to ensure that its efforts to control activities and behaviour do not burden the sector with unnecessary costs that will negatively impact the economy.

Regulatory objectivesOf course any regulator must have regulatory ob-jectives in mind as those objectives will act as both the framework and the limits for the delivery of ef-fective regulation by the regulator and any regula-tory action must be rooted in the objectives.

* Reuben Lekorwe is Partner at Baoleki Attorneys, a law firm that specialises in commercial, corporate law and regulatory compliance.

Sprint Couriers

Sprint Couriersyour world delivered

Sprint CouriersSprint Couriersyour world delivered

Sprint CouriersSprint Couriersyour world delivered

Sprin

t Cou

riers

Sprin

t Cou

riers

your

wor

ld d

eliv

ered

Sprint CouriersSprint Couriersyour world delivered

» CIVIL » STRUCTURAL » ELECTRICAL » MECHANICAL » ENGINEERING SYSTEMS

Whatever the process of selecting potential engineering consultants, agreeing the scope of services and fee for the appointment will generally require that the client prepares some form of ‘request for proposals’. This may include:

• A strategic brief, describing the client’s assumptions, aspirations, budget and programme.

• A management structure for the organisation of the project.• Assumptions about the procurement method that will be adopted.• The scope of services required.• Guidance on how fees should be quoted and broken down against stages of the

project.• A description of the form of appointment and conditions of engagement (such

as step-in rights and the level of professional indemnity insurance required).• Employer’s information requirements (BIM).• Requirements for collateral warranties (for use where a warranty is to be given

to a purchaser or tenant of premises in a commercial and/or industrial develop-ment, for example the British Property Federation (BPF) model forms CoWa/F CoWa/F and CoWa/P&T).

• It should request details of resources and curriculum vitaes of staff along with a summary of their relevant experience on similar projects.

• It should request references.• It should seek hourly rates to be applied to any work outside the proposed scope

of services.• It should request identification of any sub-consultants the consultant intends

to use.• For the appointment of design consultants, it may include a request for design

proposals. If so, it is good practice for the client to offer payment for the work in-volved in preparing designs. This benefits the client as it will encourage the con-sultants to prepare their proposal more carefully, and will also demonstrate to them that the client is serious about the project and is likely to treat them fairly.

Some clients may feel they need for assistance from an independent client adviser to decide on the form of appointment, identify a short-list of potential consultants, pre-pare the request for proposals, assess submissions and negotiate fees

Table 3: Percentage Charges on the Basis of Cost of Project for

Engineering Fields in Buildings SERVICE % CHARGE ON COST OF PROJECT

CIVIL 0.5% to 1.0%

STRUCTURAL 3.0% to 4.5%

ELECTRICAL 1.5% to 2.0%

MECHANICAL 1.5% to 2.0%

ENGINEERING SYSTEMS 0.5% to 1.0%

by Boidus Admin

Engaging Engineering Consultants:A Checklist Guide for Clients

Page 19: Boidus Focus - Vol 4, Issue 7 [Aug 2014]

BOIDUS FOCUSAugust 2014

AdvertisingPage 19

Boidus Media’s STATE OF OUR CITIESCBD EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE2014

“Transforming the CBD into the New Heart Of The City”

CBD EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE » Business and investment opportunities in Botswana’s most thriving CBD’s centres;

Gaborone / Francistown / Selibe Phikwe / Maun » Infrastructure Development & Investment through PPP’s

» Lessons from Johannesburg & Cape Town

CBD OPEN MARKET DAY » Open Business Expositions » Open Crafts - Harnessing the City’s cultural energy through; CRAFTS, FOOD and ART.

» Outdoor Theatre - Music, performance & demonstrations

» SMME Open market stalls

BOIDUS M E D I AEVENTS M

edia

Pa

rtner

Even

tH

ost

maitisong

DATE

August2014

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

» beasponsor» beadelegate» sponsorwinetasting» bookamarketstall» brochureadvertising

VENUE

KhamaPlaza,CBD

FOR BOOKINGS

Tshego -3182209/[email protected] [email protected]

❶ FNB HQ❷ Prime Plaza❸ Conference Venue❹ Market Stalls

 

 

                                                                                                                                                PO Box AD 214 ADD                                                                                                                                 Gaborone                                                                                                                                Botswana 

                                                                                                                                               Tel: (+267) 3925395                                                                                                                                                Fax: (+267)3925350 

                Company Profile   Scotch Macdonald (Pty) Ltd. Trading as Delta Glass & Aluminium has developed a wealth of experience over the years in Botswana Architectural Glass and Aluminium supply market.  Delta Glass & Aluminium is Botswana’s foremost supplier of an enormous variety of specialised glass products and Architectural aluminium applications such as Shop front systems, Curtain Wall, windows and doors, shower cubicles, skylight and Louvers and numerous other products that complement the Fenestration Industry.  As an active member of the Botswana Bureau of Standards technical advisory committee we at Delta Glass & Aluminium combine the technical expertise of the most experienced glass and aluminium designers and engineers in Southern Africa to render expert opinion on all aspects of aluminium and glass fenestration, we help determine the best solutions, both technically and economically, with systems and products that have been carefully engineered and thoroughly tested to comply with the most stringent performance specifications.  Operating from our 1600 square metre warehouse in Gaborone west industrial, Delta has a most comprehensive distribution network in place to service local and northern businesses with our fleet of purpose built vehicles. Most importantly, Delta boasts a team of highly experienced technical, production and management personnel focused on maintaining the high level of service and quality standards for which we are renowned.   

Suppliers of:Architectural Aluminium & Glass, Curtain Wallings, Shower and Patio Doors

Plot 53609, Unit 7Gaborone West IndustrialGaborone, Botswana

Tel: (+267) 3925384 / 95Fax: (+267) 3925350Cell: (+267) 71321032Email: [email protected]

COMPANY PROFILE

Scotch Macdonald (Pty) Ltd. Trading as Delta Glass & Aluminium has developed a wealth of experience over the years in Botswana Architectural Glass and Alu-minium supply market. Delta Glass & Alu-minium is Botswana’s foremost supplier of an enormous variety of specialised glass products and Architectural aluminium applications such as Shop front systems, Curtain Wall, windows and doors, shower cubicles, skylight and Louvers and numer-ous other products that complement the Fenestration Industry.

As an active member of the Botswana Bu-reau of Standards technical advisory com-mittee we at Delta Glass & Aluminium combine the technical expertise of the most experienced glass and aluminium designers and engineers in Southern Afri-

ca to render expert opinion on all aspects of aluminium and glass fenestration, we help determine the best solutions, both technically and economically, with sys-tems and products that have been care-fully engineered and thoroughly tested to comply with the most stringent perfor-mance specifications.

Operating from our 1600 square metre warehouse in Gaborone west industrial, Delta has a most comprehensive distri-bution network in place to service local and northern businesses with our fleet of purpose built vehicles. Most importantly, Delta boasts a team of highly experienced technical, production and management personnel focused on maintaining the high level of service and quality standards for which we are renowned.

 

 

                                                                                                                                                PO Box AD 214 ADD                                                                                                                                 Gaborone                                                                                                                                Botswana 

                                                                                                                                               Tel: (+267) 3925395                                                                                                                                                Fax: (+267)3925350 

                Company Profile   Scotch Macdonald (Pty) Ltd. Trading as Delta Glass & Aluminium has developed a wealth of experience over the years in Botswana Architectural Glass and Aluminium supply market.  Delta Glass & Aluminium is Botswana’s foremost supplier of an enormous variety of specialised glass products and Architectural aluminium applications such as Shop front systems, Curtain Wall, windows and doors, shower cubicles, skylight and Louvers and numerous other products that complement the Fenestration Industry.  As an active member of the Botswana Bureau of Standards technical advisory committee we at Delta Glass & Aluminium combine the technical expertise of the most experienced glass and aluminium designers and engineers in Southern Africa to render expert opinion on all aspects of aluminium and glass fenestration, we help determine the best solutions, both technically and economically, with systems and products that have been carefully engineered and thoroughly tested to comply with the most stringent performance specifications.  Operating from our 1600 square metre warehouse in Gaborone west industrial, Delta has a most comprehensive distribution network in place to service local and northern businesses with our fleet of purpose built vehicles. Most importantly, Delta boasts a team of highly experienced technical, production and management personnel focused on maintaining the high level of service and quality standards for which we are renowned.   

Suppliers of:Architectural Aluminium & Glass, Curtain Wallings, Shower and Patio Doors

Plot 53609, Unit 7Gaborone West IndustrialGaborone, Botswana

Tel: (+267) 3925384 / 95Fax: (+267) 3925350Cell: (+267) 71321032Email: [email protected]

COMPANY PROFILE

Scotch Macdonald (Pty) Ltd. Trading as Delta Glass & Aluminium has developed a wealth of experience over the years in Botswana Architectural Glass and Alu-minium supply market. Delta Glass & Alu-minium is Botswana’s foremost supplier of an enormous variety of specialised glass products and Architectural aluminium applications such as Shop front systems, Curtain Wall, windows and doors, shower cubicles, skylight and Louvers and numer-ous other products that complement the Fenestration Industry.

As an active member of the Botswana Bu-reau of Standards technical advisory com-mittee we at Delta Glass & Aluminium combine the technical expertise of the most experienced glass and aluminium designers and engineers in Southern Afri-

ca to render expert opinion on all aspects of aluminium and glass fenestration, we help determine the best solutions, both technically and economically, with sys-tems and products that have been care-fully engineered and thoroughly tested to comply with the most stringent perfor-mance specifications.

Operating from our 1600 square metre warehouse in Gaborone west industrial, Delta has a most comprehensive distri-bution network in place to service local and northern businesses with our fleet of purpose built vehicles. Most importantly, Delta boasts a team of highly experienced technical, production and management personnel focused on maintaining the high level of service and quality standards for which we are renowned.

Page 20: Boidus Focus - Vol 4, Issue 7 [Aug 2014]

BOIDUS FOCUSAugust 2014

AdvertisingPage 20

As the reward of heeding the Botswana housing Corporation (BHC) call of purchasing houses

through the Sitting Tenants campaign Atlarelang Nkwe was the first to win the P10 000 from the lucky customers who purchased the houses through the campaign.Nkwe together with Barakanye Ramogale won the P10 000 and P5 000 respectively over the weekend in the first quarter draw that was held in Francistown. The winner of first draw Nkwe who purchased BHC house Gaborone could not hide his excitement after he emerged the winner in the first draw of the campaign. Nkwe encouraged Batswana to invest in property adding that it is the most

BHC AWARDS THE FIRST QUARTELY PRIZES FOR ITS SITTING TENANTS CAMPAIGN

1. The Francistown Mayor Mr. James Kgalajwe , picking the winning entry form.

2. Mr Mookodi Seisa(Marketing and Research Manager) giving a vote of thanks .

3. FNBB was amongest some of the banks that graced the event.

4. Mr Thato Makanye (Customer Care Officer) assisting a customer

5. Mr Matenge presenting the crossword puzzle winner, Mr Seretse with his prize.

6. Customers waiting patiently for the Draw .

7. Ms. G. Sebego( Senior Estate Officer) assisting an elderly customer.

8. Mr Matenge (DCEO-Operations) giving the P10,000 winner, Mr Atlarelang Nkwe his prize.

important investment in life. “I would like to thank BHC because the sitting tenants’ campaign is encouraging and works as a platform that brings its tenants together to educate them about the importance of home ownership. So as someone who benefited from the campaign I would like to encourage Batswana especially the youth because this can benefit them before they reach pension ages,” advised the delighted Nkwe.BHC Marketing Manager Pinkie Tau highlighted that the corporation came up with the campaign upon observation that most tenants have stayed in BHC houses for many years but failed to purchase them. According to the Marketing Manager what they gather during interaction with clients is lack of knowledge about purchasing a house. She said partnering with local commercial banks in the campaign has benefited them a lot. “. This campaign has helped to encourage tenants a lot

because ever since it started the uptake has been impressive,” Tau pointed out.First National Bank (FNB) Lifestyle Consultant Maatla Morokotso said their partnership with BHC will bring results because the sitting tenants are made aware of the value proposition to be the owners. “It is very useful for us to partner with BHC because as financiers we help those who want to purchase houses. We do not only offer loans to those who qualify, we also help those who might not qualify by offering the necessary assistance in terms of financial education.” emphasized Morokotso.BHC will continue to reward customers who buy during the campaign period. Partner banks also have promotional packages that customers stand to benefit a lot from, therefore sitting tenants are encouraged to buy and enjoy the benefits of the campaign.

1

2 3

4

5 6

7

8

Captions