Uganda: New Construction Policy to Weed Out Quack Engineers - The government has put forward a Building Control Bill to regulate players in the construction industry and guarantee planned and secure building structures in the country. [AA Construction]

Kenya: New Building Laws to Lock Out Quacks - Professionals in the building sector will review ancient laws that they say have failed to keep quacks out of the sector, leading to poor quality work. [AA Construction]

Kenya: Contractors Seek Flexible Building Rules to Cut Costs - Players in the building and construction sector have asked the government to relax the building and construction code to spur further construction of houses to meet growing demand. [AA Construction]

Angola: Housing Projects Discourage Disorderly Construction - The deputy minister of Urbanisation and Housing, Joaquim Silvestre, said on Wednesday in Sumbe city, that houses construction projects in the coastal Kwanza Sul province will abide by urban plans outlined by local government, so as to avoid disorderly constructions. [AA Construction]

Uganda: Ministry - Building Control Bill in Pipeline - The Works Ministry has put forward a Building Control Bill to guarantee decent, secure and planned building structures in the country, the State Minister for Works has said. [AA Construction]

Uganda: Steer Clear of Disaster, Save Money by Testing Materials - Last year was filled with collapsing buildings in various parts of Kampala. According to media reports; it was observed that only 10 per cent of new buildings in Kampala conform to construction requirements. However, when the average person considers those requirements he doesn't bear in mind material testing, which is a major prerequisite in the construction industry. [AA Construction]

Uganda: Law On Buildings in Offing - OWNERS of buildings that collapse and kill occupants are to face tough penalties when a newly formulated Bill is passed into law, the transport state minister has announced. [AA Construction]

Nigeria: Association Seeks Solution to Collapsed Buildings - National President of the Real Estates Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Mr. Bode Afolayan, has emphasised the need to update certain aspects of the regulatory agencies operations as a way of reducing the growing incidents of collapsed buildings in some parts of the country. [AA Construction]

Uganda: Contractors Ask Govt for Law On Construction - BUILDING contractors have urged the Government to enact a law to regulate the construction industry. "The nation lacks a policy to regulate the industry, to set and enforce bylaws and to evaluate and classify contractors," Gumisiriza Birantana, the chairman of Uganda National Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors, said. [AA Construction]

Nigeria: National Assembly Makes Case For Disaster Prevention - The National Assembly is working on a legislation that will make provision for fire safety in buildings and industries among others a priority, the House of Representatives sub Committee Chairman on Fire Matters, Rep Innocent Chime has said. [AA Construction]

Ghana: New Method to Outwit Building Inspectors - Pieces of information intercepted by The Accra File reveals that prospective owners in the Ledzokuku Krowo municipality have developed a modus operandum to outsmart personnel of the assembly from not marking their buildings, which are sited on waterways and on roadways for demolition. [AA Construction]

Pretoria - The Department of Labour is expected to kick off blitz inspections on companies in the construction sector, starting from today.

According to department spokesperson Page Boikanyo, the five-day inspections will focus on companies' compliance with health and safety laws.

"With construction booming, we have a duty to see to it that workers operate in safe conditions and eliminate unnecessary accidents in a proactive manner.

"Our approach will be underpinned by pillars of education, monitoring and ensuring compliance with labour standards,'' said Mr Boikanyo.

The worst offending employers would be followed up on and be subjected to prosecution, he said, adding that a database of repeat offending employers would be created.

He said labour inspectors visiting various workplaces will be accompanied by senior departmental officials. The Free State province has been identified as one of the many places to be visited during this week.

Mr Boikanyo said inspections in sectors like hospitality and private security will be conducted in November and February next year.

Administrative Procedures for Building Simplified - Administrative Procedures for Building Simplified - The Mozambican government approved on Tuesday new regulations to govern the activities of construction companies, aimed at simplifying the licensing of building activities. [AA Network News] [AA Mozambique]

Nigeria: Rivers Orders Landlords to Use Aluminium Roofs - Rivers state government has ordered all landlords and estate developers in the Port Harcourt and its environs to immediately replace their roofing sheets with aluminium materials or get sanctioned. The state government also directed that all private and public buildings in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor be painted within the next six months. [AA Construction]

Uganda: Govt Unveils New Construction Rules - THE Government has developed a National Construction Industry Policy to manage the physical infrastructure. [AA Construction]