Africa-Press – Eswatini. If you’re still guessing your way through project pricing, it’s time to wake up and get serious.
That was the hard truth dropped on contractors Monday morning as the Eswatini Contractors Association (ECA) kicked off its three-day Estimating Training 2025 at Sibane Sami Hotel in Ezulwini.
The room was packed, the energy was high, and the message from the front of the hall was clear: “Price with facts, not fiction.”
Leading the first session was Edward Dlamini, a seasoned construction professional with more than 21 years in the game, who urged local contractors to ditch outdated pricing habits and adopt First Principles Estimating, a method that goes beyond guesswork to the actual nuts and bolts of a job.
“You don’t just price to win the job, you price to deliver it right,” Dlamini told the full house.
“Accurate, transparent pricing gives you a competitive edge. It tells your client you know what you’re doing, and it protects your profit before you even lay the first brick.”
Dlamini highlighted how contractors often get into financial trouble not during tendering, but once the project begins, due to poor estimations. “You could win the bid and still lose money,” he warned.
He encouraged contractors to understand the drawings, scope, specs, and even the risks involved, and then translate that into a structured, costed plan.
NO MORE THUMBSUCKING: USE REAL RATES
Dlamini was firm on one thing:
“Stop thumb-sucking prices or using old tender documents. Use updated, real-world rates for labour, material, and equipment. Build up your unit rates with structure.”
He also reminded subcontractors of their rights, stating that documenting every assumption in the estimation phase was crucial to avoiding disputes during execution.
KAMANGA CALLS FOR STANDARDS AND STRUCTURE
Joining the training was another heavyweight, Harris B. Kamanga, a Quantity Surveyor and Construction Manager with international credentials spanning South Africa and the UK.
In a sharp response to Dlamini’s question on scope interpretation in civil works, Kamanga pointed to the SANS 1200 standards and model preambles as the gold standard.
“Your estimates are only as good as your understanding of the scope,” said Kamanga.
“Stick to specifications, don’t skip details, and make sure you align with measurement guidelines. That’s how you protect your margins and your reputation.”
Kamanga further stressed the importance of breaking down direct and indirect costs properly, especially labour, which he said was often the largest component of any construction job.
“Know your rates, calculate productivity, and don’t forget site-specific conditions. Whether it’s rain delays or congested work areas, factor it in.”
BUILD WITH CONFIDENCE. ESTIMATE WITH PRECISION.
The training, which runs until Wednesday, July 23, 2025, is built around the theme “Build with Confidence. Estimate with Precision.” It’s designed to empower contractors with practical tools, focusing on everything from understanding BOQs and breaking down work structures, to gathering real-time rates and calculating labour productivity.
Topics still to come include productivity and output analysis, risk-based pricing, and scope planning, all key components of a professional estimator’s toolkit.
The ECA hopes this programme will reduce costly mistakes, empower local contractors to compete effectively, and raise the bar across the country’s construction sector.
Straight Talk from the Pros:
Edward Dlamini: “Estimating isn’t about numbers. It’s about foresight, planning, and profit protection.”
Harris Kamanga: “If you don’t follow specs and use standard guidelines, your project is already in trouble.”
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