February 2010

Zambia: Kalulushi K220 Billion NAPSA Project Starts This Week - CONSTRUCTION of the K220 billion National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) housing project in Kalulushi will startt this week following the handing over of the project site to the contractor. [AA Construction]

South Africa: World Cup Stadium Building Boom Proves Short-Lived - WHILE SA gears up to host the Soccer World Cup in June, many of the construction workers who built the stadiums are already without jobs and have few prospects. [AA Construction]

Cameroon: Public Works Improving Road Network - The key aspect of the road map of the Ministry of Public Works up to now is improving Cameroon's road network. Over 87 percent of the ministry's 2010 budget is devoted to roads (works and studies) and less than 2 percent to general studies. The ministry plans to use 35 percent of the budget to priority programmes focused on road pavement, 23 percent on road rehabilitation and 22 percent on road maintenance. [AA Construction]

Tanzania: In Focus - Various challenges prevent rural people in Tanzania to access efficient sources of energy or technologies. As a result, the majority of people in the areas use kerosene and firewood for lighting and cooking. Use of such sources of energy produces a gas that contributes to unwanted climate change and leads to emission of smoke which is said to cause cancer. Women and children are the main victims of cancer caused by smoke. [AA Urbanisation]

Mozambique: Money Available to Electrify 22 Districts - The Mozambican government has 300 million US dollars available to supply electricity to 22 more districts across the country during the next five years. [AA Urbanisation]

Uganda: Arua Hospital Gets Sh191 Million for Face-Lift - THE United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has released over sh191m for the refurbishment of the out-patient's department of Arua Hospital. [AA Urbanisation]

Nigeria: 'Quality Work Determines Enugu's Choice of Contractors' - Recently, Enugu State government flagged off the rehabilitation of Ugwo Nike-Neke-Ikem road, linking Enugu East Local Government Area to neighbouring Isiuzo. The coverage of the road is over 28 kilometres and would be constructed at an estimated N2 billion. Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Godwin Madueke who flagged-off the road on behalf of the governor, spoke to journalists at the end of pre-construction meeting with all those involved in the rehabilitation work.. He revealed the reasons why the government decided to embark on the project in conjunction with the benefiting local government areas and what the people stand to benefit from the project. Reporter, Emmanuel Nzomiwu, captured highlights of the commissioner's interaction with the press. [AA Construction]

Sierra Leone: VP Returns Houses to Kono Property Owners - The first set of houses for affected property owners in Koidu town in the Kono district constructed by mining outfit Koidu Holdings will be officially handed over to the affected people by the vice president Chief Samuel Sam-Sumana in February this year. [AA Urbanisation]

Uganda: Leaders Row over Palace Location - A wrangle has erupted between Obusinga bwa Rwenzururu and Kasese Municipality over land on which to build the king's palace. [AA Construction]

Nujoma Stadium Loses Astroturf - Nujoma Stadium Loses Astroturf - THE International Football Federation (Fifa), in consultation with Greenfields Sport Turf Systems, has decided to remove the artificial turf at the Sam Nujoma Stadium, which they claim affects playability because of serious structural problems in various parts of the complex. [All Africa - Namibia] [AA Namibia]

Marine Parks to Be Set Up Around Lake Victoria - Marine Parks to Be Set Up Around Lake Victoria - Plans are underway to create marine parks in the Lake Victoria basin, which will in turn help to boost tourism. [All Africa : Kenya] [AA Kenya]

Nigeria: Fire Claims 11 Lives, N59.2 Million Property in Nassarawa - Managing Director of Mainasara Ventures Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Ali Yakubu ; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Alhaji Mamman Musa, and Alpha Ahmed of VOA at the malaria eradication programme organized by VOA in conjunction with USAID at NUJ Secretariat, Damaturu... recently. Photo: Mohammed Abubakar [AA Urbanisation]

South Africa: Limpopo Steps Up Housing Delivery - Limpopo's Department of Local Government and Housing has increased the number of RDP houses it has built from 11 000 in the 2008/2009 financial year to 16 000 this year. [AA Urbanisation]