SD Issue 23 Digital

ISSUE 23 | 2019 ZIMBABWE’S LEADING INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT MAGAZINE

Space of the Month on Page 6: Homestyle
Bricks Invests In New Machinery

Bitumen World (PVT) Ltd
Civil Engineering Contractors

We 0ffer more than bituminous
products, hot asphalt mix and

road rehabilita�on.
We are in the business of
infrastructure development,

road safety, crea�ng a
convenient commute and
ensuring an enjoyable journey

for all road users.

30 George Avenue, Msasa, Harare
Tel: +263 24 2447 231-3

Email: [email protected]
Website: www.bitumenworld.net

2 structure & design | ISSUE 23

TWENTY-THIRd ISSUE

CONTENT

PUBLISHER SPACE OF THE MONTH
06 | Homestyle Bricks invests in New Machinery
Structure And Design Media
MAIN PROFILE
MARKETING 20 | Econet Invests in Mutare

Clive Mapfumo PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT
Newton Musara 40 | ZIMREAL Property Investment Forum
+263 779 141 137
+263 772 233 086 PUBLIC PROFILE
+263 8644 224 569/70 46 | US Embassy Campus Dedication

DESIGN & LAYOUT INTERIOR DESIGN
56 | Pride of Africa
Tami Zizhou
MATERIAL FOCUS
CONTRIBUTORS 61 | Picking the Perfect Paint Color
62 | Winter Lawn Prep
Michael Nott 65 | Jetmaster Fireplaces
66 | Roller Shutter Doors
PHOTOGRAPHY 71 | Aggregates
72 | Precast Building
Michele Fortmann
Structure & Design LOCAL CONSTRUCTION COUNCILS
76 | ZBCA on Cyclone Idai
SUBSCRIPTIONS
VISIT: issuu.com/structuredesign for the digital editions of every issue
+263 8644 224 570

EMAIL

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[email protected]

WEBSITE

www.structureanddesign.co.zw

FIND US AT

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While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy
of its content, neither editor nor publisher can be held
responsible for any omissions or errors: or for an y

misfortune, injury , or damages which may arise there-from.
All rights reserved. Copyright 2019

Structure and Design M agazine:
No Part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted
in any form or by any means electric or mechanical, including

photocopying or recording.

ISSUE 19 | 2019

ISSUE 21 | 2019 ZIMBABWE’S LEADING INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT MAGAZINE

ARCHITECTS’ MAIN PROFILE on Page 8: Building The
New American Embassy in Harare.
YEARBOOK
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4 structure & design | ISSUE 23

Structure & Design Team

[email protected]

S&D PARTNERS

S&D PARTNERS

PUBLISHER’S MEMO

ome-Style Bricks has recently create jobs. The new Mutare Trade Centre has Campus) was held on Thursday 2nd May. It
invested in a brand new state of consolidated a number of the Econet Group’s was attended by a myriad of US Nationals,
the art Zenith 844 single pallet enterprises including, amongst others, the other members of the diplomatic community
Brick and Paver manufacturing machine. Steward Bank banking hall, the Higherlife and local dignitaries amongst other invited
The machine will hugely improve their Foundation, Kwese, Ecocash, Ecosure, Econet guests.
manufacturing capacity, speed delivery time Mobile Network, ZOL, Connected Lifestyle,
and increase efficiency. The new machine has Cumii and Ownai. Higherlife Foundation is the Stepping into winter, we compiled some handy
the capacity to manufacture around 60,000 philanthropic arm of the Econet Group investing tips to get ready for the change in weather, at
cement bricks per day. Confidence is never in education, health, rural development and the office and at home: 3 tips to get your air
lacking in Zimbabwe. most recently assisting victims of the Cyclone conditioner ready for winter, tips for preparing
Idai disaster. your fireplace for winter as well as winter lawn
In the same vein, The Econet Zimbabwe Group prep in landscape focus.
Pension Fund (EZGPF) has recently made a A follow-up on our hugely popular Issue
huge investment in the City of Mutare making 21, where we profiled the new Embassy of All Structure & Design content, and much more is
their services more easily accessible for their the United States, the official dedication available online at...issuu.com/ structuredesign
customers, boosting livelihoods and helping to ceremony for the NEC (New Embassy or SDMagzim

Structure & Design Team

[email protected]

S&D PARTNERS

5

SPACE OF THE MONTH

Text by Michael Nott
Photos by Michele Fortmann

Home-Style Bricks invests
in new machinery…

…showing confidence in the construction industry

Home-Style Bricks has recently automatically on a pallet in rows of 9 by 6 Zenith is a German based company
invested in a brand new state of (equalling 54 bricks or pavers at a time) by 7 specialising in manufacturing and installing
the art Zenith 844 single pallet layers high. In addition to this, it automatically the highest quality, most advanced brick
Brick and Paver manufacturing machine. places a thin layer of sand in between the and paver machines, from single machines
The machine will hugely improve their horizontal layers to prevent the layers sticking to full plant planning and implementation.
manufacturing capacity, speed delivery time together. Remarkably it can produce a single Zenith was established in 1953 and have
and increase efficiency. The new machine layer of bricks in 26 seconds. Apart from been world leaders in the field for more than
has the capacity to manufacture around the bricks the machine is also capable of 60 years, renowned for their innovations and
60,000 cement bricks per day. It produces producing 60mm and 80mm interlocking and safety features and well known for the low
batches of 378 bricks and stacks them rectangular pavers. maintenance requirements of their machines.

6 structure & design | ISSUE 23

Home-Style Bricks new acquisition was
manufactured in Germany and then
imported to Zimbabwe. The machine is fully
computerised and controlled so that the
operator can select the desired quantities of
all the necessary inputs including cement,
aggregate, water and oxides for colouring. This
makes it extremely efficient and cost effective
to run as the quantities and combinations
of inputs can be closely monitored and
controlled. A German technician came out
to Zimbabwe for about a month to help
install the machine and train local operators
to programme and run the machine as
well as explaining the basic maintenance
requirements. The machine has two computer
operators plus a third technician who acts as
the quality controller ensuring the end product
is up to specific standards.

7

SPACE OF THE MONTH

Home-Style Bricks was started in 2011
with a single brick making machine and
rapidly became the largest supplier and
manufacturer of cement based products in
the country. With the acquisition of the new
Zenith 844 they now have four machines,
capable of manufacturing around 200,000
bricks per day. Because of their huge
volumes that they produce, they are able
to maintain the best and most competitive
prices. Home-Style also carries a large
quantity of all their products in stock, so even
very large orders can be accommodated
quickly making it very convenient for the
construction industry. Smaller orders for
individual home owners can usually be filled
and delivered the same day.

Home-Style Bricks has a fleet of ten 30
tonne trucks enabling them to offer a fully
comprehensive customer service from
sales to the final on site delivery. By offering
customers the convenience of an in-house
transportation service, they are also able to
reduce costs and ensure that deliveries are
reliable.

Home-Style Bricks also manufactures a huge
range of other cement based products for the
construction industry and the home owner.
One of their innovative products is the Ribs
and Blocks system to create suspended floors
in multi-storey buildings. Basically the ribs are

8 structure & design | ISSUE 23

9

SPACE OF THE MONTH

precast sections used to span between walls. The ribs are reinforced with Blocks are relatively light they can be moved and assembled by hand so
deformed bars and a steel lattice set into the concrete. The blocks are there’s no need for extra cranes or other machinery. It’s an ideal system
pre-cast hollow section units which span the ribs to create the floor. The for buildings or houses where access is restricted.
blocks can then be skimmed with cement and finished to the customer’s
specifications. This system is quicker, stronger and more cost effective
to install than the traditional method of casting floor slabs on site using
steel shuttering. The Ribs and Blocks system allows customers to make
substantial savings on materials, time and labour. Because the Ribs and

10 structure & design | ISSUE 23

11
11

SPACE OF THE MONTH

Home-Style Bricks has over 100 products in
its range. This includes commons bricks, load
bearing bricks, hollow maxi bricks, and face
bricks in a range of six attractive colours.
The bricks are coloured with oxide powders
during the manufacturing process so that
the colour runs all the way through. If the
bricks are chipped or damaged in any way
the colour remains consistent. Incidentally,
cement bricks slowly get harder over 95 years
as the cement cures gradually. Home-Style
also produces a range of blocks and breeze
blocks as well as a variety of pavers, cobbles
and even floor tiles and wall cladding. They
produce coping for the top of brick walls,
drip stones, window sills, and Dura-wall
panels and pillars. Decorative items include
pillars and columns, benches and tables for
the garden as well as bird baths, plant pots
and cement globes. Their impressive range
includes ZESA poles, culvert pipes, lintels,
slabs, pool copings and concrete sinks for
washing outside. This is just a small selection
of their products. For a more comprehensive
idea of the extent of their range visit their
website at www.hsbricks.co.zw where you’ll
also find the technical specifications of all
their products.

Some of their range like the pillars and the
breeze blocks are individually cast by hand in
fibreglass and steel moulds, so production is
very labour intensive. Currently Home-Style
offers employment to around 240 people
involved in the manufacturing and transport
sections, with additional jobs in sales and
administration, making them a major player
in the construction industry.

12 structure & design | ISSUE 23

13

SPACE OF THE MONTH

14 structure & design | ISSUE 23

15

SPACE OF THE MONTH

From their modest beginnings; their yard
now covers five hectares to accommodate
their stock and machinery, plus huge piles
of aggregates and river sand used in the
manufacturing process. Home-Style is
conveniently situated right next to Pomona
quarry, where they source their aggregate as a
by-product from the production of ¾ inch gravel
stone. Their manufacturing process requires
around 400 cubic metres of aggregate per day;
therefore proximity to the quarry vastly helps to
reduce their running costs. They also have 10
massive PPC cement silos of onsite which can
consume 60 tonnes of cement per day. They
have four backup generators when ZESA is not
available and 3 boreholes to feed the eighteen
10,000 litre water tanks. The availability of
materials, water and power means that their
production run is never interrupted.

16 structure & design | ISSUE 23

17

SPACE OF THE MONTH

18 structure & design | ISSUE 23

Home-Style Bricks even have a recycling facility where reject products
can be crushed and re-cycled to remanufacture products.
Largely due to their size Home-Style Bricks supplies many companies in
the Construction Industry, Government and the Private Sector.
To find out more you can:
Visit: Home-Style Bricks at Pomona Quarry along Alpes Road
Email: [email protected]
Tel: (+263 242) 851 996 / 851 983
Mobile: 0772 232 054
Or visit their website mentioned above: www.hsbricks.co.zw

19

Econet invests in Mutare

text by Michael Nott
photos by Structure and Design, Nabiot Banda and Mukamba Architectural Practice

20 structure & design | ISSUE 23

21

The Econet Zimbabwe Group Pension Fund (EZGPF) has
recently made a huge investment in the City of Mutare
making their services more easily accessible for their
customers, boosting livelihoods and helping to create jobs. Mutare
is often left behind by developers and investors with other cities like
Harare, Bulawayo and Gweru getting the most attention. But now
EZGPF has set out to help revive the fortunes of the border town –
one of the oldest cities in Zimbabwe and the gateway to Mozambique
and the Indian Ocean.
The new Mutare Trade Centre has consolidated a number of the
Econet Group’s enterprises including, amongst others, the Steward
Bank banking hall, the Higherlife Foundation, Kwese, Ecocash,
Ecosure, Econet Mobile Network, ZOL, Connected Lifestyle, Cumii and
Ownai. Higherlife Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Econet
Group investing in education, health, rural development and most
recently assisting victims of the Cyclone Idai disaster. The Higherlife
Foundation currently supports around two hundred and fifty thousand
students across Zimbabwe enabling them to receive quality education.
Econet’s regional manager for Manicaland is also based here.

22 structure & design | ISSUE 23

MAIN PROFILE

The new Mutare Trade Centre also houses
other offices, some smaller shops facing onto
First Street, including a motor spares shop,
a hairdresser and an outlet for electrical
goods. There are fast food outlets Kapoto
(which specialises in selling traditional food)
and Jipps for takeaway food, although there
is also a bright and welcoming seating area
for diners.

The most important and innovative aspect
of the Mutare Trade Centre is the interior
mall where smaller vendors can safely and
securely sell their products and services.
Around 90 vendors are now accommodated
within the Trade Centre on the upper
and lower ground floor as well as on the
mezzanine level. Because of the steep slope
of the site the ground floor is laid out on two
levels with the mezzanine or first floor above.
Both ground levels and the mezzanine have
ramps for easy access for wheelchairs.

The concept of the mall is in some ways
similar to the Eastgate SME market in
Harare. (See Structure and Design issue
17.) The idea was that small scale vendors
and traders could have a venue away from
the streets where they could conduct their
business in peace without constantly being
harassed by the local authorities. It would
also free up the pavements and vending sites
making the City of Mutare more attractive >

23

VALUATIONS AND ADVISORY SERVICES (VAS)
CORPORATE REAL ESTATE CONSULTANCY (CREC)
REAL ESTATE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY SERVICE (RESAS)
STRUCTURED REAL ESTATE FINANCE (SREF)

BEFORE

Our Capability

Property Management and Sales
Cell:+263 774 571 925; +263 719 571 925
Tel: +263 4 798496/7 or 0731798497/6
6th Floor Green Bridge Eastgate Complex Harare
www.intpro.co.zw

24 structure & design | ISSUE 23

AFTER

Speaks For Itself...

25

MAIN PROFILE

> friendlier and more easily
accessible for pedestrians.
The vendors would be
required to pay a nominal
monthly rental which would
make their businesses
more secure and it would
increase revenue – in the
form of rates and taxes –
for the City of Mutare. The
availability of clean and
functional ablution facilities
would also help to maintain
standards and protect the
health of all residents. So
far all of these aspirations
have been met.

26 structure & design | ISSUE 23

The smallest vendors’ stalls or cubicles are around 3.6 metres square
but there are also some bigger cubicles available. The stalls have
glass counters and fronts so vendors can display their wares, and
they’re free to bring in other furniture like stools or chairs or racks
for displaying clothes and fabrics. All the stalls have access to power
points for lighting or other electrical items – far better than the non-
existent facilities on the pavements or streets.

LED and DIGITAL SIGNAGE
BRANDING SOLUTIONS

27

MAIN PROFILE

28 structure & design | ISSUE 23

MAKING BUILDING MORE THAN
JUST STRUCTURES

OUR SERVICES
LV and HV Transmissions
CCTV & PIR Detection Systems
Fire Detection & Protection Services
Computer Aided Drawings
Power Factor Correction & Audits
Air Conditioning Systems
Electrical & Mechanical Design

and Installations

SPEARTEC Telephone: +263 242 334961 / 336484 / 308254
E-mails: [email protected]
electrical & mechanical admin@ speartecelectrical.co.zw
design & installations Website: www.speartec.co.zw

MAIN PROFILE

In addition there’s secure storage
space for vendors to keep their goods.
The mall is well lit with natural light
from the large windows which were
newly installed. Although most trading
takes place during daylight hours
there are facilities in place for artificial
lighting should the businesses become
so popular that they would like to
continue to trade after dark.
Mukamba Architectural Practice was
largely responsible for the interior
architectural design. Much of the old
interior was gutted out as it had been
neglected and fallen in to a state of
disrepair.

30 structure & design | ISSUE 23

Mukamba Architectural
Practice did extensive
consultation and research to
find out what the vendors really
needed for their businesses
to prosper. The building had
previously been a furniture
showroom so the basic layout
was good with large open plan
spaces that could be fairly
easily reconfigured.

The building was originally
constructed in the early 1950’s
and was structurally quite
sound. A previous renovation
had installed new roof trusses
and roof sheets so the roof
was fairly good with just a few
leaks needing some attention.

31

MAIN PROFILE

32 structure & design | ISSUE 23

Mukamba Architectural Practice installed new ceilings and
lighting and re-tiled the floors with hard wearing ceramic tiles.
Interestingly, the architect has installed the floor tiles in a
black and white pattern with the white tiles subtly suggesting
how the foot traffic should flow through the spaces. This helps
to encourage a logical traffic flow within the mall as well as
demarcating fire escape routes for ease of evacuation and
communication in the event of an emergency.

33

MAIN PROFILE

34 structure & design | ISSUE 23

Local architectural practice Studio Five was
mostly in charge of the exterior renovations
of the building although Studio Five and
Mukamba Architectural Practice collaborated
and worked together to achieve the final
design. Much of the original façade of
the building was reddish brown face brick
which was quite oppressive and dated
and not particularly attractive. In addition
the rainwater downpipes were exposed as
were the header boxes which were situated
halfway down the parapet walls. Canopies
sheltering the pavements were damaged by
leaks and damp and were quite dilapidated.
Studio Five has created smart new facades
that are either crisp white or glass curtain
walls which allow natural light to fill the
interior spaces. The façade of the Econet
shop has been slightly extended onto the
pavement and clad in reflective glass in
interesting geometric frames. Red, white
and blue are now the dominant colours.
The pavements were renovated and
new canopies installed. Three large new
entrances were created to provide access to
the interior mall and they also help to provide
natural ventilation and airflow so there’s
no need for artificial air conditioning. Fixed
aluminium louvres and whirlybirds on the
roof also contribute to the ventilation.

35

36 structure & design | ISSUE 23

MAIN PROFILE

37

MAIN PROFILE

38 structure & design | ISSUE 23

Econet was already occupying part of the building when the
EZGPF bought the rest of the building in 2017. The idea was
partly to diversify their investment portfolio but also to create
a new model of business for Mutare and to help give back to
the community by supporting small scale businesses. The mall
has also become a kind of meeting place for both socialising
and shopping. The fact the all the shops and vendors’ stalls are
occupied shows the success of their vision and it’s helped bring
new energy to the City.

39

THEME:

NAVIGATING OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE
BUILT ENVIRONMENT

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VISIT WWW.ZIMREAL.COM TO REGISTER40 structure & design | ISSUE23

AN OVERVIEW OF ZIMREAL 2018

31 30 131

SPEAKERS MEDIA CCOOMPPAANNIIEESS

236 DELEGATES

15 INDUSTRIES REPRESENTED

Property Investment 10.84%
Consulting and Advisory 10.84%
Property Management and Support Services
24.14%
Retail
Hoteliers 1.97%
Construction and Engineering Services
Finance and Banking 1.48%
Property Development
8.87%
Legal
Architect 7.88%
Quantity Surveying Services
Pension Fund 13.30%
Government
Media and Other 4.43%

1.97%

0.99%

5.42%

1.97%

5.91%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

41

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250 35

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UNT(UILS1D7-M$A2Y002)019 UNT(IULS1D0 -JU$2L5Y02) 019 UNT(IULS1D7 -JU$3L1Y02) 019
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100 on Montgomery is a landmark luxury
townhouse development in the much sought after
leafy suburb of Highlands.

44 structure & design | ISSUE 23

INFORMATION

+263 4 497 231 |+263 4 496 833
+263 4 496 773 | +263 4 495 054

+263 783 180 658
[email protected]

US Embassy Dedication

text by Michael Nott
photos by Michele Fortmann

46 structure & design | ISSUE 23

47

PUBLIC PROFILE

48 structure & design | ISSUE 23

The official dedication ceremony for the NEC (New
Embassy Campus) was held on Thursday 2nd
May. It was attended by the US Ambassador to
Zimbabwe Mr Brian A. Nichols, his wife Ms Geri
Kam, Mr Kenneth Wetzel the US Public Affairs Officer, Mr Tad
Davis Director of the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations,
Mr Mathew Kolinsky from B. L. Harbert the main contractor and
project manager, and other dignitaries from the international
diplomatic corps. The Zimbabwean delegation included the
Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Cain Mathema and
the Mayor of Harare Mr Herbert Gomba. Local contractors,
suppliers and service providers were also invited.

The ceremony was opened by Mr Kenneth Wetzel who went
on to introduce local superstar Hope Masike who gave a
beautiful rendition of the Zimbabwean national anthem
accompanying herself on the mbira. Ms Masike is an alumni
of the OneBeat musical exchange programme sponsored by
the United States. Incidentally the design of the canopy over
the main entrance is said to have been inspired by the design
of the traditional mbira.

This was followed by Mr Clinton Canady IV (General Services
Officer) who sang the national anthem of the United States
of America.

A short video clip showed the ceremonial Lowering of the Flag
at the former US Embassy on Herbert Chitepo Avenue and the
Raising of the Flag at the new embassy campus.

Ambassador Nichols then addressed the assembly starting
with his condolences for the victims of Cyclone Idai which
claimed the lives of more than a thousand people in Zimbabwe,
Mozambique and Malawi. He also remarked that the following
day, 3rd May, would be the US Foreign Services Day which
commemorates US citizens who have lost their lives while
serving overseas. He went on to ask for a moment’s silence to
respect those who lost their lives.

Ambassador Nichols went on to say that, “great architecture
enriches the people and society around it. The proud people
of this land knew this truth a millennia ago when they laid
the foundations of Great Zimbabwe, the land of kings, nearly
300 kilometres from here. And Great Zimbabwe served as
the inspiration for this beautiful building.” He went on to say
that the design of the NEC was also inspired by the geography
of Zimbabwe with gently sloping terrain, vast areas of veld or
grassland and extensive tree cover.

Ambassador Nichols remarked on the Art in Embassies
programme which promotes local artists and artists from the
United States.

He thanked the City of Harare and Government officials who
had provided support and assistance for the project. He
also commented on mutual trade and investment between
Zimbabwe and the USA and stressed that political and
economic reform can be achieved through mutual dialogue.

His final remarks were about World Press Freedom Day which
would also fall on 3rd May this year and he congratulated the
Financial Gazette on its 50th Anniversary.

49

PUBLIC PROFILE

50 structure & design | ISSUE 23