Online Reporter
Chief Reporter
AT LEAST 527 high-impact infrastructure projects spanning energy, information and communication technology (ICT), transport, water and sanitation, agriculture; health, education, and housing have been identified for priority next year.
Through the projects, the Government expects to speedily establish infrastructure to make Zimbabwe a modern, industrialised and highly prosperous country within the next six years.
Also, the Second Republic plans to renovate the London residence and chancery, as well as Zimbabwe’s embassies in Nigeria and
Germany.
Treasury has since set aside ZiG$14 billion (about US$560 million) to complete various ongoing projects, as well as begin new ones across the country.
The projects include ongoing construction of Lake Gwayi-Shangani and Kunzvi Dam; rehabilitation and upgrading of major hospitals across the country; construction of the remaining 88km of the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway; completion of the Trabablas Interchange in Harare; commissioning of the Hwange Thermal Power Station Unit 5; and the Presidential Borehole Drilling Scheme.
The Government plans to establish ICT-enabled provincial and district disaster management centres, construct 100 rural community solar mini grids targeting schools, clinics and Government offices, and work on the Kunzvi water treatment, irrigation and pipeline
project.
In addition, the Government will continue constructing housing units across the country, as well as setting up irrigation facilities.
This is contained in the 2025 Infrastructure Investment Programme report, which indicates that 67 of the identified projects are national.
Harare province will have 85 infrastructure projects, Matabeleland South — 51 and Mashonaland West province — 49.
Mutare and Mashonaland East provinces will have 47 projects apiece, while Mashonaland Central will have 42, with Midlands having 38.
There will be 37 projects in Bulawayo, 36 in Masvingo and 28 in Matabeleland North.
Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said the establishment of infrastructure had contributed to economic growth and created opportunities for marginalised communities.
“Over the years, strategic deployment of limited resources by Government towards infrastructure development has contributed towards economic growth through facilitating economic activities, job creation, creating opportunities for marginalised communities, thereby addressing poverty and inequalities within the country,” he said.
“Furthermore, infrastructure investment in the form of roads, aviation, railways, energy, water, information communication technology and housing, among others, is essential for establishing and solidifying the necessary foundation required for effective private sector participation.”
Minster Ncube said the Government will implement various strategies to enhance procurement and tender selection processes.
“Benefitting from the project implementation architecture adopted during the hosting of the 44th SADC Heads of State and Government Summit held in August 2024, Government will further initiate implementation frameworks and approaches aimed at accelerating project implementation, with attention also being given to quality and turnaround times,” he said.
“Consistent with our value for money principles, due diligence processes in procurement will be enforced, with the view to select contractors with relevant financial and technical competencies.”
The coordination of key five sectors — health; education; transport; housing; and water and sanitation — will be spearheaded through Inter-Ministerial Committees chaired by the Office of the President and
Cabinet.
The 2025 Infrastructure Investment Programme report reads: “Furthermore, and to enhance project execution, benefitting from project delivery architecture invoked during the implementation of SADC projects, coordination and implementation mechanisms for some key projects will be spearheaded through Inter-Ministerial Committees chaired by the Office of the President and Cabinet consistent with the whole of Government approach and integrated project development
approach.
“This will ensure that all stakeholders become more aggressive and attentive to project delivery milestones, timelines and resource requirements.”
The Government will also introduce an enhanced maintenance programme for the rehabilitation of targeted buildings in 2025, which will be chaired by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.
Targeted facilities include those under health, prisons, the army, public works, education and the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
