NSSA stalls Zesa multi-million dollar mall construction

THE National Social Security Authority has reportedly ordered Drawcard Construction Company, which was contracted by Zimbabwe Electricity Industry Pension Fund to construct a multi-million dollar shopping mall in Gweru, to suspend operations after it allegedly failed to comply with health and safety regulations.

Sources alleged that the company failed to provide personal protective clothing for its workers and did not have an accident prevention plan, a development which led to two of its workers being seriously injured last week after scaffolding bars collapsed.

Zimbabwe Construction, Allied and Trades Workers’ Union Midlands regional manager Mr Noel Mano, who was the whistleblower, said work on the site had been suspended following the accident after NSSA officials visited the site and condemned it as an unsafe working environment.

“There was an incident this week (last week) where two Drawcard employees were seriously injured when scaffolding they were on collapsed. One of the employees broke his shoulder blade. The working conditions at the site were unfavourable. The company does not have an accident prevention plan and has failed to provide protective clothing for its employees,” he said.

Mr Mano claimed the company had not remitted money amounting to over $150 000 to the National Employment Council for the Construction Industry, pension fund and trade union dues.

NSSA chief Occupational, Health and Safety and Rehabilitation Centre officer Dr Betty Isabel Nyereyegona said she was yet to receive a report on the incident.

Drawcard was contracted by ZEIPF to construct Gweru Megawatt Shopping Complex which is located just outside Gweru CBD along Bulawayo Road and is expected to cost over $14 million. The complex will be completed with secure self-contained parking and lighting for the office block and the supermarket with access road that link to the service station.