Mozambique: Rain in newly opened central bank building – engineers call for audit

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Mozambique: Rain in newly opened central bank building – engineers call for audit

10:56 CAT | 16 Oct 2020

File photo: Social Media

The Mozambican Order of Engineers on Thursday asked for a technical audit of the works of the central bank branch inaugurated by the president on Friday, which suffered rain damage on Saturday.

“This not being an isolated case of failures in public works, the Order believes that measures should be taken to ascertain responsibilities, from the client, the contractor, the architect and the contract supervisor, through a technical audit whose results should be made public,” it said in a note sent to the media.

The day after the inauguration, “the Bank of Mozambique building in the city of Chimoio (centre of the country)showed that it suffers from deficiencies, laid bare by the water that ran into the auditorium and some other areas of the building during the storm” that hit that part of the country.

The infiltrations were recorded in a video that circulates on social media, where one can see the rain falling inside one of the rooms.

The Engineers’ Association is willing to collaborate in the audit, considering that the case of the Central Bank branch in Chimoio is a unique opportunity to reflect on the practices in use in the construction industry in the country.

On the other hand, it is important to ensure that the good name of engineers in Mozambique is not sullied by cases like this.

“It is therefore important to draw lessons and check whether there is a need, both in terms of content and application, to improve the procedures and normative devices that govern the construction activity,” he said.

The branch of the Bank of Mozambique of Chimoio results from the reuse of the offices of the former Banco Nacional Ultramarino, inaugurated in 1960. (picture below).