Zimbabwe

[KeithC]

Hi Guys,

Just wondering if anyone had any experience of working in Zimbabwe, types of systems - regs etc.

Cheers,

Keith.

 

[johnboy6083]

no experience, but i know that their currency is worthless, due to quantative easing by Mugabe, to line his own pockets. Your braver than me, if you decide to work there, especially if your white.

 

[oldtimer]

no experience, but i know that their currency is worthless, due to quantative easing by Mugabe, to line his own pockets. Your braver than me, if you decide to work there, especially if your white.

Yep I would second that that country used to be the bread basket of Africa now sadly it can barely feed itself The funny thing is where are these bleeding liberals who years ago rushed into handing over this country to a despot instead of a smooth transition and as for human rights well lets put it this way it will be no time soon that we see boots on the ground to get this country back from the brink and why simple they do not have any oil.

Oh and yes as for standards me thinks a bare copper wire with a weight on the end so that you can lasoo a overhead line the a rod in the ground and your TT system is good to go

 

[malcolmsanford]

I did 8 months in the 80's at Luanshya Copper Mines in Zimbabwe and the mines and mine area was based on the UK system and I still believe it is based "loosely" on the UK standard, but Marvo one of the contributors on here would have a better idea,

I'm going back over 20 yrs now and then there were still quite a few ex-pats working there, and even then it was an eye opener, what it would be like now ..................hmmmm no comment

 

[Engineer54]

I did 8 months in the 80's at Luanshya Copper Mines in Zimbabwe and the mines and mine area was based on the UK system and I still believe it is based "loosely" on the UK standard, but Marvo one of the contributors on here would have a better idea,

I'm going back over 20 yrs now and then there were still quite a few ex-pats working there, and even then it was an eye opener, what it would be like now ..................hmmmm no comment

Correct, Zimbabwe electrical regulations is indeed loosely based on our UK system, probably early 15th edition. What it's like these days is anyone's guess, whatever they have to hand is my guess!! lol!!!

 

[Marvo]

Zim does have regs and it's pretty similar to the UK with some South African nuances thrown in. Much of the industrial installations were by South African contractors especially in the mining sector. I was there less than a year ago and there's a hint of the wild west there. Corruption is rife and industrial developement has slowed to a trickle compared to a decade ago. It's not for the faint hearted but if you're working on a specific project and you're living in a compound or on the mine it should be safe enough. If on the other hand you're a freelancer and you're involved in low level wheelings and dealings, which I wouldn't recommend, then I would employ the services of a security company.

 

[ian.settle1]

It would be last place on earth I would think off going to work with that git Mugabe in charge.

He has totally bankrupted the country and as far as he is concerned the white man should be eliminated from the country.

 

[Marvo]

As with most African figureheads he'll spout rhetoric when it suits him but, when it comes to being a money issue, foreign professionals are given every courtesy. Most of the guys that run into problems are the self-styled entrepreneurs who are taking chances with the local corrupt officials.

I wouldn't consider the places as a no-go area but I would recommend doing due diligence before you commit to going there.

 

[KeithC]

Thanks to all that replied.

Cheers,

Keith.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

I dont know anything about the place i`m afraid keith apart from the obvious.....they may however be using a distribution system called SWER...which stands for single wire earth return, However i may be wrong on this. SWER is a way of getting power over distance on a budget so is suited to developing countries....but there are others on here who have much more knowledge than me about this kind of setup..........