Wenslus Murape
Tapiwanashe Mangwiro
Senior Business Reporter
The Treasury has announced bold plans to revamp the country’s public investment management framework in 2025 to address inefficiencies in project delivery.
The challenges have in the past resulted in cost overruns, delays and stalled projects, which affected infrastructure development and undermined national goals.
In his 2025 National Budget Statement, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube outlined the comprehensive strategy to bring efficiency and effectiveness to the system, key in realising Vision 2030 targets.
“In order to actualise the above, the Project Preparation and Development Fund will be fully capacitated to support activities such as feasibility studies, environmental impact assessments, and detailed project designs,” said Minister Ncube.
This move, he emphasised, would ensure that only well-prepared projects are undertaken, significantly boosting the probability of their successful implementation.
Minister Ncube added that initiatives under the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA), the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ), and the Southern African Development Community Project Preparation Development Fund, would provide additional support for project preparation.
A significant part of the strategy entails enhancing the public investment management architecture through a series of targeted measures.
Tinevimbo Shava, an economist, welcomed the reforms but urged vigilance in implementation. “The measures outlined by Minister Ncube are promising, especially the focus on project preparation and capacity building,” Mr Shava noted.
“However, success will depend on strict adherence to the outlined strategies and minimising bureaucratic delays.
“The Project Preparation and Development Fund is a step in the right direction, but it needs to be transparently managed to ensure resources are utilized effectively.”
One key strategy was capacity building in critical areas such as project identification, planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation.
Through empowering personnel across Government departments, the Treasury hoped to lay a strong foundation for sustainable project delivery.
He also stressed the importance of tapping into consultancy and technical skills within the private sector and other Government departments to bridge knowledge and expertise gaps.
Another significant measure relates to improving the project coordination framework.
“This will be achieved through the use of interministerial committees,” Minister Ncube explained, emphasising the need for collaboration among various stakeholders to ensure seamless execution of infrastructure projects.
Additionally, the Treasury committed to reinforcing a quick win targeted approach, aligned with clear implementation and cashflow plans, to fast-track high-priority projects.
To ensure quality outcomes, the Government pledged to enhance due diligence in procurement processes.
“This will ensure selection of contractors with competent and requisite financial and technical capacities,” the minister said, addressing a key contributor to project inefficiencies.
Economist, Gladys Shumbambiri-Mutsopotsi, highlighted the importance of community involvement. “While the funding allocations are significant and the strategies sound, it’s essential that local communities are involved in the planning and monitoring of these projects,” she said.
“Projects often fail because they don’t address the actual needs of the people they are meant to serve. By integrating local voices into the process, the Government can ensure these initiatives truly deliver for Zimbabweans.”
Substantial financial resources have been set aside for the reforms
The 2025 Infrastructure Investment Programme, a cornerstone of the strategy, was allocated ZiG58,6 billion.
The sources will include ZiG28,4 billion from budget revenues, ZiG1,2 billion from development partners, ZiG1,8 billion in loan funding, and ZiG27,2 billion from statutory and other sources.
“Guided by the above and consistent with our aspirations for Vision 2030, resources will be availed towards funding the 2025 Infrastructure Investment Programme,” Minister Ncube assured.
The vision was clear, by addressing inefficiencies in project delivery, Zimbabwe could achieve not only improved infrastructure but also accelerated economic growth.
With a well-defined roadmap and the political will to execute it, the Treasury’s efforts in 2025 represented a decisive step toward building a more efficient and prosperous nation.
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