The innovative Star Construction Company Ltd has been the first company in Rwanda to make concrete windows and door frames. The company also makes ‘concrete curved blocks for building underground and above ground water tanks’.
Eng. Dedeki Papias Kazawadi(photo below) is the local proprietor and the company’s Managing Director of the two projects told igihe.com that: “I just got the idea about the projects, sat down at my workplace, initiated them and it has really worked out as I expected.”
Kazawadi said that, while initiating Concrete Blocks Water Tanks, he learnt the idea from the internet research, got in touch with a U.K based company called Parry Associate via emails to learn more about the project and he was then able to take over six months while bringing the idea into practice.
Since 2003, the concrete blocks for water tanks made of locally available resources, have been successfully installed and supplied to different parts of the country including; Kigali, Kayonza, Nyagatare, and Bugesera with the storage capacity ranging in 3 m3 and 200m3 depending on the size needed by the client.
Kazawadi also narrates that he bought the idea of concrete door frames and window frames from an Indian Lecturer at Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) who told him how it works successfully in India.
“The lecturer just told me how the project is useful in India and as a pacesetter I asked myself why not Rwanda. I therefore sat down and brought the Lecturer’s idea into action,” he pointed out.
He said that such frames that were initiated in 2009 are cheap, modernized when it comes to the fast developing Rwanda, and long lasting.
Kazawadi said that among other objectives, the company intends to offer well researched, highly pertinent technologies that are result-oriented to the clients’ long-term development project proposals.
Star Construction so far deals with two subsidiary units- Concrete products that compile culverts, curbstones, hollow and solid blocks, paving blocks, and ventilation blocks.
And Contracts that compiles building construction works, irrigation works water tanks and maintenance services.
The firm has over 50 employees with about 23 permanent workers that are well trained in their fields.
Kazawadi also said that all employees recently went through one month training by Senior Expert Services from Germany under GTZ and WDA to improve on skills.
According to Kazawadi, the general hindrance to the construction sector in Rwanda is that there is no legal framework from the government to appraise and streamline stakeholders in the sector and he advises government to look into the matter.
The company that started slowly in 1996 and improved operations in 2001 expects annual revenues of approximately Frw 400 million this year.
With much enthusiasm and untiring fortitude, Kazawadi hopes to increase the company’s annual revenues to at least Frw 1Bn.
Who is Kazawadi
He is a Construction and Management engineer with a diploma in Architecture having more than 15 years practical experience in private entrepreneurship, leadership, construction company management, concrete products production for selling, marshlands irrigation and buildings construction works.
The management experience gained ranges from project management, costing and estimating, manpower and materials planning, contract negotiations, team building and leadership with ability to motivate; guide and coach towards managing projects to achieve full lifecycle project targets within budget limitations and strict deadlines.
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