FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AND WATER ENGINEERING

CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY ASSIGNMENT

1. THE INTUNDLA MALL CONSTRUCTION SITE PROJECT

COURSE CODE :ECW2207

GROUP 10 MEMBERS

1. Rubete Blessing A N02421008F

2. Brian Nkala M N02419227P

3. Kudzai L Mangosho N02422939N

4. Audrey T Sanjobo N02423027G

5. Perfect P Munhundibaba N02424683Y

6. Njabulo P Ndhlovu N02422121Q

7. Kutenda S Chinzete N02420161W

8. Israel Sekerayi N02424811M

9. Tadiwanashe Chidhakwa N02421917E

10. Jephat T Nyahondo N02427156N

SITE LOCATION AND TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT

The proposed development is situated on a prominent urban infill site at the intersection of
4th Avenue and George Silundika Street in the central business district (CBD) of Bulawayo,
Zimbabwe still in construction on a 2000 m2 piece of land. This corner location is one of the
busiest pedestrian and vehicular junctions in the city, positioning the site at the heart of the
commercial core. The site is roughly rectangular, occupying the entire block frontage along
both thoroughfares. It is bounded by 4th Avenue to the east, George Silundika Street to the
south, and joining commercial properties to the north and west. The surrounding area is
characterized by high-density retail and office buildings, including historic arcades and
modern shop fronts, making this a prime retail node and situated close to the marketplace.

(Prototype of the Mall outlook when complete)

Type of Construction Project:

The project entails the construction of a new, two-storey retail mall. Under the local zoning
bylaws and building codes, this is classified as a commercial (Class 6) development. The
building will be a reinforced concrete frame structure, designed to provide a modern, open-
plan retail environment. The ground floor will comprise a mix of 10 shop units, likely
including larger anchor tenants with direct street frontage onto both 4th Avenue and George
Silundika Street to maximize foot traffic. The first floor will accommodate the remaining 10
shops, totaling 20 retail units across the building. Access to the upper level will be facilitated
by a central staircase, escalators, and a lift to ensure accessibility for all shoppers. The
construction type is traditional wet trades, involving cast-in-place concrete columns and
slabs, with external walls finished in a combination of face brick and plastered render to
complement the surrounding urban fabric.
STAGES OF CONSTRUCTION AND THE EQUIPMENT USED

STAGE 1: Site Clearance

 Firstly two houses were demolished to clear the site to be used as shown below in fig
1
 Rubble was removed using an excavator
 The rubbles were loaded into a waste truck and taken from the site

(Figure 1)

STAGE 2: Site Preparation

 More than 30cm of the top soil was removed
 It contained organic matter which was not strong to support buildings
 Hoes and picks were used to remove the top soil

(Backhoe loader used to remove the top soil)

STAGE 3: Soil Investigation
 Soil tests were carried out by the Geotechnical Engineer and sent to labs to check if
the soil is suitable for the type of building to be built.
 Bearing capacity of the soil was determined so as to select suitable foundation
 Pad footing foundation was chosen as soil could support concentrated column beams

STAGE 4 : Setting Out and Excavation

 Deep trenches were dug to prepare the buildings footing and columns/pillars are
placed as shown below in fig 2

 Set bases (460×230) mm depending on column size

Equipment used :

(Excavator used)
STAGE 5: Foundation and Construction
 Blinding (50mm) to provide clean level surface and prevent contamination
 Reinforcement installed to increase tensile strength
 Spacers (50×100×100) mm to support bases, correct concrete cover and protect steel
from corrosion

(This figure below shows reinforced columns and isolated footings )

STAGE 6: Formwork
•Shuttering\ Formwork was done
• distance between bases and shutter 50m
•Shuttering\ Form working columns was done to hold wet concrete in shape until it sets as
shown below in fig 3

Figure 2
STAGE 7: Inspection
 Inspection of columns
 Engineer comes first then inspector
 They confirm that reinforcement, spacing and dimension meet design specifications
before concrete is poured

STAGE 8: Column Construction

 Shuttering of columns
 Concrete poured (grade 30MPa)
 The figure 4 below shows a concrete pump truck which was being used to transport the
30MPa concrete on site

Figure 3
 Volume of concrete used 275m³ (250mm×1100m²)
 Each lorry carried 6m³ of concrete so total of about 46 lorries carried the concrete
Equipment used :

(Photo contains a concrete mixer for mixing concrete)

STAGE 9 : Beam and deck preparation

 Steel fixing of beams (monolithic beams used)
 Double mesh reinforcement(12mm bars)
 The thickness of the decks is 250mm

STAGE 10: Reinforcement Detailing

• Inspection of spacing of reinforcement, overlapping distance of steel bars(1m) and spacing
between links/sterrubs (200mm)
• The links are there to withstand the shear forces
• The figure 5 shows the links and columns formwork installation

Figure 4
• The spacing of links was determined by the magnitude of shear forces

STAGE 11: Concrete pouring

• Pouring concrete in columns and decks as shown in fig 6 below
 Deck thickness :250mm
 Total volume: 275 cubic meteter
 46 lorries, 6 cubic meters each
 The ratio used was 1:2:3 by volume of cement , sand and aggregate

Equipment used :

(Concrete mixer truck)

(Concrete mix was poured using the pipes from the truck)
STAGE 12: Inspection during construction
•Inspection by the engineer as shown below in fig 7

Figure 5

STAGE 14: Curing of concrete

•Curing of the deck which is keeping the concrete moist and protected was done for 21 days
as illustrated below in fig 8

Figure 6

Fig 9 shows the concrete after curing, with vertical steel reinforcement in place
Figure 7

Fig 10 below of the building far past the initial planning and foundation stage

Figure 8
•Structure was built after 21 days of layering the deck
 The structure being constructed is a double story mall with 19 rooms in total,
staircases and an elevator
SAFETY MEASURES IMPLEMENTED AT THE SITE AND EVALUATION
OF THEIR EFFECTIVENESS.
Construction site safety is a multidimensional discipline that balances physical barriers,
psychological culture and rigorous management systems. In high-risk environments safety is
not merely about preventing accidents but about building a resilient system that can absorb
errors without resulting in fatalities. The core safety measures implemented at the site are:

[Link] Protective Equipment(PPE)

- PPE is equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards. Examples of PPE include gloves,
safety glasses, hearing protection, hard hats, and respirators. When employees use PPE,
employers should implement a PPE program. While elements of the PPE program depend on
the work process and the identified PPE, the program should address:
(i) workplace hazards assessment
(ii) PPE selection and use
(iii) inspection and replacement of damaged or worn out PPE
(iv) employee training
(v) program monitoring for continued effectiveness
-Personal protective equipment (PPE) refers to anything workers wear to help
protect them from a workplace hazard. The use of PPE as the main method to
control exposures should be limited to situations where elimination, substitution,
engineering, or administrative controls are not practicable, or when:
[Link] protection is required because other control methods are not sufficient to

reduce the hazard.

[Link] hazard is a result of a temporary or emergency condition

[Link] limits exposure to the harmful effects of a hazard but only if the PPE is worn and

used correctly.

[Link] PROTECTION SYSTEMS

Fall protection systems Reduce fall-related injuries and fatalities.

-Guardrails: These are permanent or temporary barriers(rails and toe-boards)that act as a

physical shield between the worker and the edge.

-Work Restraint Systems: A harness and lanyard set up adjusted so that the worker cannot

reach the edge.

-Covers: High-strength covers for holes in floors or roofs clearly marked and secured.
[Link] Perimeter Controls

-These define the boundary between the “work zone” and the “public zone”. Their primary

job is to keep unauthorized people out and protect the surrounding environment from site

hazards. The site perimeter controls includes:

(i)Fencing and Hoarding: Solid barriers(hoarding) or chain-link fencing that prevents

public entry and obscures visual distractions.

(ii)Buffer Zones: Physical space maintained between the site boundary and active heavy

machinery or overhead work.

(iii)Silt Fencing And Environmental Barriers: Engineering controls designed to prevent

runoff, dust and debris from escaping the site perimeter.

[Link] Inductions And Safety Audits

-Mandatory site-specific briefings for every new worker and toolbox talks(brief daily safety

meetings).

-Regular inspections to identify hazards and a non-punitive system for reporting “near

misses”.
Challenges faced by project team and propose possible solutions??

1. Safety Hazards and Accidents

Problem
-Falls from height
-Equipment accidents
-Lack of protective equipment
-Poor safety awareness

Solution
-Implement strict safety policies
-Provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
-Conduct regular safety training
-Appoint a safety officer
-Regular safety inspections

2. Inefficient Equipment Maintenance

Problem:
-Equipment breakdown
-Lack of maintenance
-Improper operation
-Unplanned machinery repairs.

Solution:
-Preventive maintenance schedule
-Hire trained operators
-Keep backup equipment when necessary
3. Labour Issues
Problem:
-Shortage of skilled workers
-Low productivity
-Worker absenteeism
-Conflicts among workers

Solution:
-Hire skilled and trained workers
-Provide training programs
-Offer incentives and proper supervision
-Maintain good working conditions

4. Delays in Project Schedule

Problem:
-Late delivery of materials
-Equipment breakdown
-Weather conditions
-Poor planning

Solution:
-Prepare a realistic project schedule (e.g., CPM or Gantt chart)
-Maintain buffer time for critical activities
-Regular monitoring and updating of schedule
-Proper resource allocation

5. Poor Quality Workmanship

Problem:
-Use of substandard materials
-Lack of supervision
-inadequate skills
-Failure to follow specifications

Solution:
-Quality control and inspection procedures
-Material testing before use
-Skilled supervision
-Follow approved drawings and standards

6. Design Changes and Variations

Problem:
Client-requested changes
Errors in design
Incomplete drawings

Solution:
-Proper design review before construction
-Clear approval process for variations
-Good coordination between design and site team

7. Environmental and External Factors

Problem:
-Adverse weather
-Government regulations
-Community complaints

Solution:
-Plan work according to weather forecast
-Comply with legal requirements
-Maintain good community relations
8. Material Management Problems
Problem:
-Theft of materials
-Damage due to poor storage
-Shortage of materials
-Overstocking

Solution:
-Proper inventory control system
-Secure storage facilities
-Regular stock checking
-Efficient procurement planning

9. Cost Overruns
Challenges:
[Link] in material prices
[Link] changes during construction
[Link] due to errors
[Link] cost control and budgeting

Solutions:
[Link] a detailed cost estimate and budget before starting
[Link] value engineering to optimize cost
[Link] strict cost monitoring and reporting
[Link] scope changes through thorough design review
[Link] and Technical Issues
Challenges:
[Link] or inaccurate drawings
[Link] changes after work has begun
[Link] between structural, electrical, and mechanical systems

Solutions:
[Link] thorough design reviews before construction
2..Use Building Information Modeling (BIM) to detect clashes
[Link] close coordination between design and site teams
[Link] a formal change management system

OVERALL EXPERIENCE AND KEY LEARNINGS

Site Visit Reflection: Mall Construction Project

The visit to the construction site was eye-opening. Seeing the completed deck and floor of the
first floor highlighted several key aspects of construction management and civil engineering.

Structural Integrity
- The solid foundation laid out for the first floor emphasizes the importance of load-bearing
capacity.
- The decking system ensures stability for subsequent floors and overall structural integrity.
- Proper column placement and beam connections were evident, distributing loads
effectively.
- Material choices (e.g., concrete, steel) impact durability and strength.
- Quality control measures (e.g., concrete testing, inspections) ensure compliance with
standards.
- The foundation design accommodates potential settlement and soil conditions.

Construction Sequence
- Observing the systematic build-up of the structure, floor by floor, showcases project
management principles in action.
- Each phase depends on the previous one, highlighting scheduling and logistics importance.
- Coordination between teams (e.g., concrete pouring, steel fixing) is crucial.
- Managing dependencies prevents delays and ensures smooth progression.
- Regular progress meetings and updates help track project milestones.
- Planning for future phases (e.g., MEP installations) starts early.

Safety Measures
- Noticing safety protocols for workers handling heights and materials underscores risk
management's critical role in construction.
- PPE (hard hats, harnesses) was mandatory.
- Fall protection nets and barriers were in place.
- Clear signage indicated hazards and restricted areas.
- Regular safety briefings and drills prepare workers for emergencies.
- Site housekeeping and waste management reduce

HOW MUCH THE SITE HAS PROGRESSED

GROUP PICTURES

(Photo taken of Group 10 members date: 20 February 2026)

(Photo with the Engineer and Contractor Mr Glee Makuvaza and Mr Murwira)