The participants were asked questions regarding the security situation of their assets while undertaking projects, their perceptions regarding the level of corruption in the construction industry, and their relationships with host communities as they undertake their projects.
5.8.1 Security of assets / materials
The participants were asked to mention the level of looting, vandalism, and theft while implementing projects. Most of the participants mentioned that they had not experienced any looting on projects, but they said that there was a high incidence of vandalism and theft. Most participants mentioned that most theft is perpetuated by their own employees who connive with outsiders to steal. The items which are mostly stolen on site include cement, steel, and fuel. One participant mentioned that wooden items such as pegs for setting out and timber for formwork and scaffolding are also items that are frequently stolen on site. The suppliers also mentioned that they have to employ tight security measures, as most of the construction materials are stolen during the loading and offloading process. The participants mentioned that most of the times the Police do nothing, even after reporting the cases of theft to them. A contractor gave an example of one large contractor involved in the construction of a new railway line who complained to the media of how he was losing over 10 000 litres of diesel per week. A consultant mentioned that they have to hire police officers to escort them to site when visiting projects in remote areas for fear that their four wheel drive vehicle may be stolen due to the security situation in that area. Another contractor mentioned his experience in which he had glazed a dwelling house in the City of Blantyre only to find out the following morning that all the glass had been stolen during the night. Other participants also mentioned their experience of how road furniture and ARMCO pipes are vandalised immediately after being installed by the local people who use them to manufacture Ox carts and hoes.
5.8.2 Corruption in the industry
Most of the participants who were asked to state the level of corruption in the construction industry mentioned that there is a very high level corruption in the industry. Very few contractors mentioned that they have not witnessed or heard of corrupt practices happening in the construction industry. Other participants mentioned that they do not tolerate any form of corruption in their organisations. The participants mentioned that most procuring entities do not openly solicit bribes to award contracts, but some other officers openly do so by their action or even out rightly demanding a percentage if they have to award a firm a contract.
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A participant also mentioned that supervising consulting firms are also in the forefront conniving with contractors to defraud clients through over-claiming in terms of the quantity of work done, and also issuing unsubstantiated instructions without any work being done, but paid for. A contractor mentioned that contractors are perceived wrongly as having a lot of cash and willing to spend to get their way. The participants mentioned that personnel in the client‟s accounts office favour only firms, which give bribes so that their payment can be processed faster.
A contractor mentioned how one of his projects has not been finalised as government supervisors are insisting that he give them some money before the final valuation is done. He further mentions that sometimes when he tenders for a job, some officials phone him saying that they are processing his documents and all he needs is to deposit some money for him to be considered. One contractor claims that some contractors have been selected by the ruling party to work with them by financing the party activities and in return they will be awarded large contracts.
5.8.3 Stakeholder relationship
The participants mentioned that their relationship with host communities is good, and they normally get most of their non-skilled labour force from the host communities. However, the participants, especially contractors, mentioned that they face a number of problems when dealing with the host communities. The problems include, among others, the perception that all people in that community should be employed at the project site, the lack of skilled artisans within the host community, the tendency of the labour force to delay projects in order to prolong their employment, the community being at loggerheads with the implementing agency due to delayed assessment, and payment of compensation and overcharging by land owners for their land to be used as a borrow pit.
The participants also mentioned that there is political influence by some well-connected politicians. These politicians exert undue pressure on a project by politicising a national development project as if they were personally responsible for bringing the development project to that area. Politicians were also blamed by other participants that they interfere with the working of the construction project by issuing directives which are contrary to the scope of works.
The participants also mentioned that some of the tensions which arise on projects are as a result of the project team themselves; these include delayed payment of the local labour force
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and cultural or social problems in which the visitors try to engage in relationships with the local women which angers the menfolk in the community.
A contractor mentioned that as they are mobilising on site, they engage the local community through their traditional leaders and invite them to site to explain the purpose of the project they are about to undertake. He thus mentions that this creates community ownership of the project and hence, the community is are more cooperative and assist in giving them social security.
Another contractor mentioned that when a contractor brings personnel from elsewhere to do the jobs in the village, naturally the people will have more money than the people in the area where they are working and at times conflicts do arise as they fight for resources or women. Another contractor mentioned a case where a local chief had imposed that his relatives should be employed first on a project, and when the people had been employed they wanted to be treated with kid gloves.
5.9 Chapter summary
The chapter revealed that the construction industry in Malawi relies mostly on public works contracts and the traditional procurement method remains the dominant procurement method in use in the country. The chapter also related how different members of the construction supply chain add value in the industry, and the constraints they face when undertaking projects. Further, the chapter also highlighted how the industry procures its project inputs and the type of relationships that exist in the industry. Finally, the chapter revealed how members of the construction supply chain are financing their business, how the industry is regulated, and the security and social factors affecting the industry.
The next chapter presents the summary, conclusions, recommendations, and areas for further research.
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