December 2008

Angola: President Discusses $5 Billion Reconstruction Programme WIth China - The Angolan head of State, José Eduardo dos Santos, is since 7.50pm local time (12.50 in Angola) in the People Republic of China for an official visit to the Asian nation. [AA Urbanisation]

Uganda: Multi-Billion Shopping Center Opens in Feb - A multi-billion Oasis Shopping Mall under construction on Yusuf Lule Road is set to be open in February, a top official disclosed over the weekend. [AA Construction]

Angola: Part of Luanda/Viana/Cabolombo Highway Open - Part of Luanda/Viana express road subway, at intersection with Cacuaco/Viana/Cabolombo highway, is open to traffic, despite lacking some details for the conclusion of the infrastructure. [AA Construction]

Liberia: U.s. $200 Fine If Buildings Are Not Painted By December 15 - The Monrovia City Council (MCC) has announced that any residential or business structures not painted by December 15, 2008, a fine of US$200 would be imposed on the owners of such structures. [AA Urbanisation]

Nigeria: Ondo Awards N15 Billion Water Contract - ANOTHER round of contract worth N15.432 billion has been approved by the Ondo state government for the construction of transmission and distribution of water for the Owena multipurpose dam water supply project in Ondo State. [AA Construction]

South Africa : Taste in water poses no health threat - City dept - By Gabi Khumalo
Cape Town - The City of Cape Town's Water and Sanitation Department has assured consumers that the taste of water in different areas poses no health threat.
The department said it had received enquiries from residents in certain areas who were concerned about their water suddenly having an antiseptic taste.

By Sydney Masinga

Emalahleni - An agreement has been signed to build a R1.3 billion integrated housing settlement in Emalahleni (formerly Witbank).

Representatives of the Emalahleni Local Municipality, ABSA and the Mpumalanga Department of Housing have signed an agreement to build the Klarinet housing project on 280-hectares of land, starting in January.

"Funding for the project is derived from subsidies from the provincial department, while top up funds will come from ABSA and Emalahleni," said ABSA spokesperson Ajith Bridgraj.

The development will be built over six years.

A total of 6 247 subsidised housing units, 2 322 apartments, 3 900 bonded housing units and a range of social facilities and amenities including schools, clinics, community centres and a cemetery will be built. The area will also have its own shopping mall.

Klarinet will be developed by ABSA Property Development, or Absa Devco, and is part of the national housing department's Breaking New Ground initiative.

Liberia: Commerce Threaten to Deal With Cement Dealers - The Minister of Commerce, Mrs. Martha Beysolow has in no uncertain terms threatened to prosecute cement dealers who she claimed are allegedly in the habit of engaging into pilferage of cement thereby denying consumer the exact 50.5 kilo of cement bag. [AA Urbanisation]

Nigeria: Ex-Lawmaker's House Collapses in Yenagoa - RESIDENTS of Akenpai suburb of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital were yesterday thrown into confusion when a two storey building under construction belonging to a former member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly collapsed destroying a section of the structure. [AA Construction]

Ghana: Osei Kwaku Youth Centre Commissioned in Kumasi - THE PRESIDENT, His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor, last Sunday commissioned a US$1.4 million Youth Centre located at Ahinsan, a suburb of Kumasi, to provide counseling services, leadership and skills training to the youth. [AA Construction]

Tunisia: Sfax Will Soon Have Its Olympic Sports City - With one million inhabitants, the city of Sfax will soon have its own Olympic sport city. The project which will sprawl over some 42 hectares, is situated 11 kilometres from the city centre. [AA Construction]