EIZ SUSPENDS LICENCE FOR CHANDA MALL CONTRACTOR
Lusaka, 28th August 2023
The Engineering Institution of Zambia (EIZ) has suspended the practicing licence for Stalwart Investments, the Contractor of Chanda Mall in Makeni that collapsed whilst under construction, on 31st July 2023, leaving one worker dead.
The licence has been suspended for a period of 60 days, within which the Contractor is expected to appear before the EIZ Disciplinary Committee.
Engineering Registration Board Chairperson Eng. Dr. Michael Nsefu said this action is in pursuant of the EIZ Act No. 17 of 2010, under section 24.
The suspension follows investigations by the Engineering Technical Committee to determine the integrity of Chanda Mall building which established that the main cause of the collapse was inadequate form work design, decayed support structure and inaccurate installation.
Further investigations revealed that misaligned bally extension joints resulted in failure to transfer loads to the ground and subsequent excessive bending-buckling
leading to collapse.
This was worsened due to non-provision of lateral bracing to pole wooden ballies timber ledgers which were also found to have decayed as they showed presence of dry rot.
The technical report further revealed that the construction works and design did not meet the structural integrity of the building and hence the collapse.
“As an institution, we are extremely saddened by the loss of life during this construction. These are the dangers that come with delivering substandard work at the expense of innocent citizens. This is not only detrimental to the engineering
sector, but to the infrastructure development of the country as a whole.
“We are therefore sending a stern warning to all Engineering Organisations and Engineering Professionals undertaking engineering works that we will not tolerate professional misconduct, and anyone found wanting will be brought to book.
We wish to remind engineering professionals and organisations that professional misconduct will result in a licence being revoked and/or punishment as enshrined in
the EIZ Act No 17 of 2010.
As an Institution, EIZ remains committed to regulating and promoting the engineering profession for optimal human resource and benefit to society.
We would further like to reiterate that there are engineering standards that set clear performance and enables innovation without compromising confidence in the
standards achieved.
Our call to the public is not to engage anyone practicing engineering works without a licence, and to report any suspicious acts of professional misconduct to the nearest police station or to the engineering institution of Zambia.
Issued by:
Eng. David Kamungu
Registrar/Chief Executive Officer
On behalf of the 61st Engineering Council Engineering Institution of Zambia