Construction of the ZACA: The Hopes of a Burkinabé Manhattan

Burkina Faso wants to establish a modern and model business centre, worthy of its economic influence. What has appeared as a chimera in the most audacious prospects of urbanization in the Burkina Faso capital, is finally entering its phase of realization.

" The real challenge is there," Prime Minister Tertius Zongo launched on Thursday 14 January at the start of the construction of the Commercial and Administrative Activity Zone (ZACA). After the company Bonkoungou Mahamoudou et Fils (EBOMAF) has succeeded in 95% of the service without fault (quality and deadlines respected) to the satisfaction of all the stakeholders, this adventure in urbanity, never realized in the history of the country is well launched. First and foremost, the government welcomes this decisive turning point in the establishment of the capital's largest exceptional class urban hub.

This is no longer a dream, the project to transform the city centre of Ouagadougou into a true modern sanctuary for business, services, leisure and commerce such as the Plateau in Abidjan (Côte D

It is projected to be a reality in the next five years. After the time of the beginnings, the hour is now at the raising of the buildings. "For us who travel a lot around the world, the first impression about a city remains the home. This project, to which we fully adhere, will strengthen the good image of our country outside," explains Hamidou Ouedraogo aka Hamid-Carreaux, CEO of the Patarbyendé Shopping Centre (CCPA). The optimism is now being read on all faces. The general management of the Project and local companies (EBOMAF, ONATEL-SA, ONEA, SONABEL, real estate developers) have joined forces to hold this important bet.

"Really, if a Burkinabé company is in a position to produce such beautiful works, then the country has a real expertise in the field of construction that it can share with the rest of the African states that are constantly using multinationals for their road infrastructure," acknowledged Mr. and Mrs. Jaspin, a couple of European tourists amazed at the beautiful face of the new site. The new arteries and the various networks in the area force admiration. Of the 274 plots from 500 to more than 1,500 m2, only about 20 await buyers. ZACA project manager Moussa Sankara has a smile of relief. The end of the tunnel is at hand. After the development, building construction appears to be the greatest challenge to be won. A supputation initiative.

The option of extending the area caused so much ink and saliva to flow. For some Burkina Faso, this initiative was only a lure. For others, it belongs to the utopian enterprises of the Fourth Republic. And yet, since the signing of the decree establishing its implementation, the ZACA has kept the leaders in check. After the uprooting of the people of the unhealthy neighbourhoods of Koulouba, Zangoétin, Kiendpalgo and Peulghin, the bare land thus cleared of eighty-five (85) hectares (ha) for a long time remained the nest of garbage of all kinds and a real waspier in terms of insecurity.

Burkina Faso has, of course, succeeded where many countries are still dragging their way, under pain of encountering the wrath of their populations: getting rid of urban promiscuity and insecurity in the capital. But the hardest one has dragged: the realization of beautiful models.

The lethargy observed in the conduct of the project animated all sorts of rumours and sharpened scepticism among many inhabitants of the capital. Sometimes it is the water table in the area that would be so flooded with water that it is impossible to set up buildings there. At the same time, the government would no longer have the resources to undertake the development work. Or the subscribers would all have withdrawn leaving a hot potato in the hands of the state. The main arguments are that the multiplicity and diversity of real estate projects (Ouga 2000, ZACA, Bobo 2010) seem to have dispersed the financial capacities of investors who actually find themselves the same across the country. Economic and financial crisis also requires. Although the various officials who led the project have given explanations, comments on possible failure are well underway. "The State does not target any profit in this transaction.

It is only animated to offer a modern urban hub for the promotion of services and trade in the capital," says Moussa Sankara, the current managing director of the ZACA project. Although the cost per square metre (m2) is one hundred thousand CFA francs forcing some subscribers to revise their space ambitions downwards. "Plot prices have been set well below their actual values. There is nowhere else in Burkina Faso where a real estate developer can benefit from such a location and amenities," he adds.

The tough urban struggle in Africa

The critics of the Project started to put a little water in their wine only when a meeting of the Council of Ministers gave EBOMAF the work of achievements of the Roads and Various Networks (VRD). The rapidity observed in the production of these works eventually convinced the most sceptical. It has chained up with the pituming of the main and secondary streets as well as the construction of girders covered by the same young public works company whose expertise and compliance with the deadlines for execution never cease to surprise the Burkinabe. "Subscribers can already undertake their constructions safely. The ancillary services work in no way hinders the smooth running of their construction sites," convinced Moussa Sankara.

The ZACA project has just given itself a soul with the two components of the development carried out after the tear gas was removed. Without buildings of a maximum height of seven meters still being visible on the site, the quality of the tracks already makes the users happy and the pride of the municipality already faced with traffic jams. To date, the State has injected CFAF 53 billion into both the compensation of former residents and the development.

The success of EBOMAF is accompanied by the intervention of various concessionaires (ONATEL-SA, ONEA, SONABEL) which deal with underground networks for the supply of telephone, water and electricity whose financial cost is estimated at 8 billion CFA francs. As by enchantment, many Ouagadougous adhere to the Project and do not fail to draw their hats to the companies that have shown know-how and patriotic momentum so that the realization of this gigantic project is effective.

" It would be dishonest not to recognize that the works have deengorged traffic and improved the image of the city. No matter how the company won its markets. What is important to me is the quality of his work within the time required. As long as they meet these two criteria, they can be awarded contracts as no one dares to deny their potential in the materials, human resources and expertise of Public Works (TP). I found this on this nearby site at my workplace and on his park in Kossodo. ZACA illustrates the power of this society, which continues to build its reputation. It is all to the honor of its founder and our country. When it is done well, you must have the courage to assert it," says Ismaël Dioma, a user working in the vicinity of the ZACA.

Real estate experts estimate investment in construction on the site from CFAF 300 to CFAF 500 billion. This manna will not only rid the capital of its high poverty content through thousands of jobs but will also considerably improve its face in terms of urbanity.

Hermann OUEDRAOGO (Collaborator)

Sidwaya