Two incidents happened in the last two months in different parts of the world, but both exposed the devastating effects of poor construction. The first is the huge earthquakes that hit parts of Turkey and Syria, leaving over 50,000 dead. The second incident is more minor and involves heavy rains experienced in several parts of Rwanda. In the case of Turkey, more than 100 arrest warrants were issued for contractors, engineers, and architects as the state moved in to find answers and hold to account those who were found to be complacent in the construction of the affected buildings. In the case of Rwanda, it was a viral video shared on multiple social media channels showing how a home had been washed away by the heavy rains. While no deaths or severe injuries were reported, you could hear a woman cursing the contractor for cutting costs on materials and thanking God that the collapse had occurred while the kids were away. For now, the family may have been left homeless, but had there been any fatalities, chances are some people would be in hot soup. These two cases are another reminder that Mother Nature can be devastating and very good at attacking unannounced. Fortunately, humans have developed the ingenuity to overcome or protect lives in anticipation of disasters. Perezida Kagame abajije Minisitiri w'Ibikorwaremezo @Dr_ENsabimana ikibazo kiri mu myubakire itanoze. Hagarutswe ku kibazo cyabereye i Kinyinya ahazwi nko kwa Dubai, aho inzu zaguye bigaragara ko zubatswe mu buryo bubi. #MeetThePresident Dore kwa Dubai pic.twitter.com/Fg0vr62E5p — Jean-Claude | NDAYISHIMYE (@JCNdayishimye) March 28, 2023 However, the advancements in construction are always compromised by players who get involved with what I call ‘destructive patterns’. These include practices such as using substandard materials to reduce costs. This may be driven by greed for profit or using unskilled labor that doesn’t consider the impact of their actions or inaction. Rwanda is not immune to these destructive patterns. While there are policies to regulate construction, some investors and contractors still find a way to build substandard houses. This was probably the case in the Kigali estate. The recent viral video pointed to using low amounts of cement, ignoring the recommended ratios of the sand-to-cement mixture. There is no doubt that the Rwandan market is price-sensitive, but this should never be the reason to put families at risk. Firstly, in the short term, qualified professionals must conduct a risk assessment of the homes in that estate. The rains may pause for a few days or months, but they will still come, and we cannot predict their severity. This case may be a warning and reminder to act to the estate residents. To the rest, it is a reminder that we must verify and test the strengths of the homes we build or buy to ensure they meet the minimum safety requirements. For example, if you are buying a used car, the intelligent thing to do is have a mechanic check it out and not only rely on you taking it for a spin. I recently had to rebuild a residential home’s plumbing and sewage system, bought less than two years ago. What started as the owner hearing drops of water in one corner of the house got worse when foul smells from the bathrooms became unbearable. It turned out that during the construction phase, wastewater from the toilets, bathrooms, and kitchen flowed into a small tank that would get full. And as if that was not enough, the roof’s rainwater was being directed to the same tank. The pipes exerted pressure, and it was just a matter of time before they gave way. Had the owner assessed before buying the house, these kinds of faux pas would have been exposed. Similar assessment tests can be done for the different elements of construction. It is crucial that the electrical installation system is solid and protected with no risk of short circuits or exposure to rats and excessive heat. It is vital that water pressure is checked and things like water heaters are not hanging in hazardous positions or without firm support. One of the common complaints I get is moisture buildup (humidité). These elements lead to expensive repairs and maintenance costs and can also be a health hazard. In the short term, the cost of adhering to the industry standards for construction may be high, but in the long run, it is worth it. The viral video of the Kigali home washed away by the heavy rains reminds me of the old biblical proverb where Jesus warned his followers not to build their houses on sand.
