ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As my academics and internship experience are a success, I wish to express my deepest

appreciation to all those who provided me the opportunity and guidance. First and foremost, I

thank the almighty Lord for giving me Life. I cannot wish for anything more from Him. A special

gratitude I give to the Director of Engineering, Eng. Bright Banda, of LUSAKA CITY COUNCIL,

who gave me the chance of undergoing an internship with this esteemed firm. I say thank you very

much Director. To my boss and supervisor, Eng. Victor Musonda, your contribution in stimulating

suggestions and encouragement is forever going to guide me in my engineering career path, thank

you sir. I would also like to acknowledge with much appreciation the important role of the staff of

LUSAKA CITY COUNCIL, Engineering department, especially, Eng. Danny Kayombo, who in

spite of his duties, had time to listen, guide and keep me on the correct path. To Chileshe Chisenga

and Benjamin, my engineering work could not have been completed without your time in

providing the needed documents. I say thank you. Furthermore, my distinguished appreciation

goes to the management of The Copperbelt University under the able leadership of the Vice

Chancellor, Professor Naison Ngoma. Further gratitude goes to The Dean of Students, Dr.

Mulambya and the Head of Civil Engineering Department (HOD), Mr. L. Phiri and all others

involved in making internship part of the academic assessment to enable students gain the aspiring

work experience before graduating.

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 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This is an internship report, undertaken by Mr. Chileshe Mulenga Phiri at LUSAKA CITY

COUNCIL. The internship commenced on 25th June and ended on 9th August, 2019. In fulfillment

of the requirement of the Degree, Professional and Tertiary Diploma programs pursued at The

Copperbelt University, it is mandatory for students to have a minimum of two (2) months practical

industrial experience in their respective fields of training and organization of their choice. An

Industrial attachment is an essential requirement for awarding a Bachelor’s Degree Certificate at

The Copperbelt University.

The purpose of the internship is to prepare the student to serve the needs of industry and commerce

more effectively upon graduation. This included providing real life experience and exposure, thus

gaining first-hand exposure of working in the real world, granting the opportunity to learn more about

the intern’s self-potential and abilities, getting connected and developing professional network,

preventing the CV from going to trash during job application and transition to full-time job position.

Internship allows students to harness the skill, knowledge and theoretical practice they learnt in the

University and enabling them to transform theory into practical real life situations. (LOOKS REPEATED

BCZ YOU HV PURPOSE OF INTERNSHIP LATER ON) The intern’s time with LUSAKA CITY COUNCIL has

really illuminated his knowledge and understanding of practical experience of the theories being taught

between the walls of the University lecture halls and in the corporate environment.

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Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ................................................................................................................................... 1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................. 2
1.0 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 4
1.1Background of the Report .................................................................................................................... 4
1.2 Purpose of Attachment/Expected Output ...................................................................................... 5
1.4.1 Background .................................................................................................................................. 6
2.0 FIELD OF EXPERIENCE.............................................................................................................................. 7
2.1 Duties and schedules .......................................................................................................................... 8
2.2 Contributions of Student to the Organization ................................................................................ 9
3.0 LESSONS LEARNT................................................................................................................................... 10
4.0 CHALLENGES ......................................................................................................................................... 10
5.0 CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................................................... 11
6.0 RECOMMENDATIONS............................................................................................................................ 12

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 1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1Background of the Report

As part of my five (5) years Bachelor’s Degree studies in Civil Engineering, as per requirement of

The Copperbelt University, it is mandatory for students to perform an internship. Students pursuing

either a degree or diploma are to embark on this internship for a minimum of two months to enable

them obtain practical industrial experience in their field of study and also to abreast themselves to

the engineering environment. The report is written at the end of the internship by the student

to the institute which form part in the awarding of the degree certificate. The intern did a six

(6)-week internship (25th June to 9th August 2019) at Lusaka City Council. Currently there are five

(5) departments at the company (Finance Department, Administration Department, Engineering

Department, Valuation Department and Planning Department) and each one of them has been

projected to comprise of several divisions. The intern was assigned to the Engineering Department.

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The main duty was to assist the Engineers with implementation of the goals of the department,

which included various tasks depending on the daily activities like contractor supervision,

inspection of road cuttings and reinstatement, culvert installation and installation of humps.

However, the foremost area the intern specialized in was roads and drainages.

An internship is an extensive program through which an intern can learn the practical aspects of

what is taught between the walls of the University lecture halls. The internship helps students to

learn, know and understand what actually happens on the field as compared to what they have

studied in the school. This is a report on the purpose of carrying out the internship, the profile of

the chosen organization of the intern, duties and schedules performed in the organization, the

contributions of the intern to the organization, application of theories to real –life situations,

various lessons learnt by the intern, challenges encountered, conclusions drawn and

recommendations made by the intern.

1.2 Purpose of Attachment/Expected Output

By the requirements of The Copperbelt to the award of degree and diploma certificates, it is a pre-

condition that every student, before moving to the final year, undertake an industrial attachment

with a selected organization of their choice. The internship provides students the opportunity to

gather some work experience relevant to their studies and their professional work field. It also

helps the student to learn discipline and principles of working ethic.

Listed below are the purposes of undergoing an internship:

 An internship provides real life experience and exposure. It enables the intern to gain

first-hand exposure of working in the real life setup which is remarkably valuable

towards the intern’s career.

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  Internship allows the student to harness the skill, knowledge and theoretical practice

being taught in the university. It provides the students with an opportunity to apply

the knowledge in a real work situation thereby bridging the gap between academic

work and the actual practice.

 Internship teaches young professionals about specific industries and companies they

are interested in, projects their self-potentials, abilities and shortcoming.

 Internship helps the intern in getting connected by developing a professional

network which in turn helps in transitioning to a full-time position. (I

REWORDED THIS HOPE THE MEANING IS STILL THE SAME)

1.3 Profile of the Organization

1.4.1 Background
The law relating to Local Authorities in Zambia is contained in the Republican Constitution Article
109(1). The detailed law on Local Government is contained in the Local Government Act, Cap 281 of
the Laws of Zambia. It provides for the establishment of Councils, their constitution, proceedings,
Committees, Finance, functions, manner of regulation and by-laws, and appointment of Local
Government Administrators. Under the Act, the Minister of Local Government may establish a City,
Municipal, District, Township Council, or Management Board. There are 4 City Councils, 14
Municipal Councils and 54 Local Authorities (Districts) today in Zambia.

The formal mandates of Local Authorities are derived from the Local Government Act No. 281 of the
Laws of Zambia and the various statutes. Section 61 of the Local Government Act list 63 functions of
Local Authorities whose details are given in the second schedule of the Act. Furthermore, additional
functions of Local Authorities are promulgated in Cabinet Office Circulars such as No. 1 of 1995 and
No. 10 of 2002. The following are the overall functions of Local Authorities:
• Maintain law and order and effective administration of Local Authorities to ensure national security;
• Control the keeping and movement of livestock, slaughtering of animals, sale of meat and enforce
the disposal of diseased animals carcasses or meat which is unfit for human consumption;
• Take measures for storage, market and preservation of agricultural produce and prevention of

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agricultural produce, conservation of natural resources and prevention of soil erosion;
• Control the manufacture, storage, sale and use of petroleum, fireworks gas and other combustible
or dangerous substance;
• Provide and maintain supplies of clean water and establish water works and water mains;
• Construct and maintain public roads, streets, sanitary lanes, bridges and water courses and
remove all obstacles thereof;
• Establish and maintain sanitation and drainage systems to facilitate the removal of refuse and
effluent;
• Provide for the registration of births, marriage, deaths, clubs and enumeration of persons or
property connected with the administration of Council areas;
• Establish and maintain colleges, schools and day nurseries;
• Prepare and administer schemes for community participation in development;
• Establish and maintain a system of street lighting and in public places;
• Establish and maintain firefighting and prevention services in order to protect life, property and
natural resources from damage by fire;
• Control persons and premises engaged in manufacturing, preparations, storage handling, sale or
distribution of food or drink including intoxicating substances;
• Prohibit and control the use of land and erection of buildings in the interest of public health, safely
and orderly development of the Council area;
• Demolish or remove buildings which are a danger to public health or safety and do not conform to
plans and specifications approved by the Councils;
• Establish and maintain public amenities such as parks, zoos, gardens, pleasure grounds, camping
grounds, caravan sites and an open spaces;
• Establish and maintain hospitals, clinics, health centers and environmental and health services;
and
• Establish and maintain cemeteries, crematoria, and mortuaries and provide for the burial of the
dead and destitute persons who die in the area of the Council.

2.0 FIELD OF EXPERIENCE

During the internship period, the intern was assigned to the Engineering Department at Lusaka

City Council. The Engineering Department has the following services and sections;

 Administration
 Architectural and Landscaping
 Building Maintenance &Construction
 Design (Service Charges Computation)
 Fire Brigade
 Mechanical Section
 Quantity Surveying Section
 Parks & Gardens
 Roads and Drainage
 Electrical Section
 Swimming Pool

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The main duty of the intern was to assist the Engineers with implementing the goals of the

department which included various tasks depending on the daily activities like contractor

supervision, inspection of road cutting and reinstatement, culvert installation and installation of

humps. However, the foremost area the intern specialized in was roads and drainages.

2.1 Duties and schedules

 Excavation inspection

 Road cutting and reinstatement supervision

 Construction supervision

 Paved road database

 Installation of humps

Excavation inspection

The intern was on several occasions tasked to guide applicants for excavation permits on the

application procedure, went on site to take measurements to enable coming up with an accurate

excavation fee to be made by the applicant and regularly visited the site during excavation to ensure

the client is working as per instructed by the City Council. The following images were taken on

one of the excavation projects the intern supervised; (NO IMAGES)

Road cutting and reinstatement supervision

The intern was also, on two, occasions attached to UNIK ENGINEERING to supervise various

road cuttings which were made by the aforementioned engineering firm to facilitate pipe

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installations under the millennium challenge project. The contractor was also instructed to reinstate

all the cut roads and the intern was privileged to supervise this exercise.

Construction supervision

The intern was also involved in various construction projects but the one which stood out was the

installation of culverts at Chingwele cemetery. Under the supervision of Eng. Victor Musonda, we

managed to install culverts at the cemetery to give access to the other side of the cemetery. The

image below was taken; (NO IMAGE)

Paved road database

During the intern’s time with the city council, he was tasked to mark all the paved roads in Lusaka

using Google Earth, taking note of the road length, road name and the ward to which the road

belonged. This database will help the highways section to identify which roads need maintenance

and installation of various road furniture.

Installation of humps

The intern was also involved in the installation of humps in Twin Palm area and Chalala area. This

exercise helped the intern understand the procedure of installing humps and factors to consider

when coming up with a location to put up a hump.

2.2 Contributions of Student to the Organization

The intern, working under the supervision of Eng. Musonda, managed to develop a database for

all the paved roads in Lusaka using Google Earth. This database will help the highways department

to easily capture any road of interest and retrieve its length and width without going on site

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 3.0 LESSONS LEARNT

During the internship the intern learnt the following lessons:

 The intern is now able to execute various construction projects without or with very

minimal supervision.

 The intern can now organize a team and effectively execute a task at hand.

 Having attended various site meetings, the intern now understands all the site meeting

proceedings.

 The intern is now able to prepare a quotation for excavation works, road cuttings and

reinstatement.

4.0 CHALLENGES

The major challenge the intern faced was that of adapting to a new Lifestyle. The internship made

the intern wake up very early in the morning with the alarm clock at 5:30 am, latest by 6 am to get

ready for work. The intern sat for nine (9) to ten (10) good hours in a day typing and preparing

either reports or doing an online research about a particular task. Sometimes the intern could close

as late as 5:30 pm. The new life was quite jarring but productive. The hours and the new living

situation clearly made socializing more difficult than before. This challenge later became normal

and part of the intern’s daily life activities as the days moved on.

The intern also encountered financial difficulties as regards to food and transportation. Financial

problems and challenges happen to everyone at some point, and the stress and worry can get to

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anyone. However, realizing that there is an important task ahead to complete kept the intern going.

It is not easy to overcome it but with perseverance, determination and dedication, the task ahead

was achieved

5.0 CONCLUSION

The placement program was exclusively of boundless achievement to the intern. The internship

program aided the intern to have an in-depth knowledge about the practical problem solving in the

corporate world. The intern has been enlightened on the application of theories in real life

situations. Lusaka City Council has offered the intern opportunities to learn and develop himself

in many areas. This internship has also prepared the student to be ready to serve the needs of

industry and commerce more effectively upon graduation. This included providing real life

experience and exposure, thus gaining first-hand exposure of working in the real world, granting

the opportunity to learn more about the intern’s self-potential and abilities, getting connected and

developing professional network. Before the placement took place, my ideas did not match the

experiences I have gained during my internship. This internship was definitely an introduction to

the actual work field for me. I have learned to work in an engineering organization and apply my

knowledge into practice. My deepest gratitude I give to the Engineering department, Lusaka City

Council, most especially the Engineering Director- Eng. Bright Banda, the senior engineer- Eng.

Danny Kayombo and the whole staff of the department for the great opportunity given to me for

their careful and exquisite guidance which were extremely valuable for my study both theoretically

and practically. I perceive this opportunity as a big breakthrough in my career development.

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 6.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

I would like to appeal to Lusaka City Council management to consider providing transport

allowance to students on internship to lessen the intern’s movement to and fro the office. Also the

city council after any road cut should facilitate for road reinstatement to have the engineers

involved. (CHANGE WORDING HERE)

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