Massive infrastructure score in year gone by

DESPITE the numerous challenges faced by the country over the past year, Zimbabwe registered significant progress on both new and ongoing infrastructural development projects.

The ventures are in line with the Second Republic’s thrust to cover years of infrastructure decay and edge the country towards the attainment of an upper middle income economy by 2030.

The infrastructural developments have been backed by the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), which runs from 2018-2020, with a second framework set to commence at the end of 2020.

Cyclone idai

On March 15, Zimbabwe was struck by unforeseen tragedy.

Cyclone Idai-induced rains ravaged infrastructure in parts of Chimanimani and Chipinge in Manicaland Province, and partly affected parts of Masvingo, Midlands, Matabeleland South and Mashonaland East provinces.

Over 300 people died mostly in Chimanimani and Chipinge while several hundreds were displaced.

The catastrophe led to infrastructure including homes, roads, bridges, grain storages and other buildings being destroyed.

Despite the disaster, Government and developmental partners moved in to rehabilitate the damaged infrastructure with at least US$100 million being channelled towards the disaster.

To date, most places affected by the cyclone are now accessible as roads and bridges have been reconstructed.

Also worth mentioning is the assistance from the South African National Defence Forces (SNDF) which donated and constructed two Bailey bridges at Kopa at a cost of R59 million.

Government has also reconstructed schools which include Kwirire, Ndima and Ngangu primary schools and Chimanimani High School, all damaged during the cyclone.

Pit latrines have also been constructed at temporary residential areas and schools.

Currently, authorities are working on constructing houses for the survivors who are still living in temporary shelters.

Transport sector

Transport infrastructure underpins the success of any economy as it facilitates movement of goods and people, opening economic opportunities.

Last year saw the reconstruction and repair of various transport infrastructure countrywide.

Following the successful upgrade of the Victoria Falls International Airport, the uplifting of other key airports such as Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport and the control tower at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport were started in 2019 with funding from China EximBank and the National Budget respectively.

The expansion of the US$153 million Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport is on course, with 22 percent of the works already completed to date. It is set to be completed within the set timeframe of the end of 2021.

The year also saw five contractors being awarded tenders to work on reconstruction of the BeitbridgeHarare-Chirundu highway.

The contractors — Tensor Systems, Masimba Construction, Fossil Contractors, Exodus and Company and Bitumen World — have since been allocated 20-kilometre road stretches, with room for expansion to 100km depending on performance.

The Harare-Beitbridge-Chirundu road facilitates the movement of millions of people and cargo from South Africa to Central, East and North Africa.

In addition, over 161km of roads were reconstructed and resurfaced under the road rehabilitation programme started by Government in 2017.

The programme followed the 2016/17 National Roads Condition and Inventory Report which concluded that only eight percent of the roads were in very good condition, 17 were in good condition, 40 in a fair condition while 30 were in a poor state.

Last year also saw the completion of the US$4,5 million Norton road-overrail bridge, which increases the safety of motorists.

Health

Despite the doctors’ strike, which hogged the limelight this year, there were a number of retooling achievements in the health sector that can be singled out.

In July this year, President Mnangagwa handed over paediatric and diagnostic machines sourced from India to capacitate central hospitals.

The equipment was bought under the accelerated purchase system, targeting to refurbish Parirenyatwa, Harare Central, Chitungwiza Central, Mpilo and United Bulawayo hospitals.

Energy

Due to the low water levels at the country’s main source of power, Kariba, the country has endured severe power cuts.

However, Government is working on a number of medium- to long-term goals which are meant to ensure that Vision 2030 is fulfilled.

The expansion of Hwange Thermal Power Station’s units 7 and 8, which is envisaged to add 600MW to the national grid, is progressing well, with all the geotechnical investigations having been completed and design reviews, excavations and site levelling at an advanced stage.

The completion of the expansion works will help ease power supply challenges currently besetting the country.

In addition, 92 out of the 2 010 transformers to be manufactured countrywide under a short-term Transformer Manufacturing Project have been completed while under the Smart Metering Project, 404 out of the targeted 2 000 smart meters configured with GSM sim cards were installed.

Under the Rural Provinces Grid Extension projects, 31 of the 35 targeted institutions comprising schools and clinics have been grid-electrified, with prepaid meters connected.

Housing

Recently, President Mnangagwa commissioned the Sakubva Urban Renewal Project, an initiative to modernise the old and run-down suburb and turn Mutare into a Smart City in line Government’s Vision 2030.

The initiative is being replicated across the country with modernisation of old apartments in Mbare in Harare and Makokoba in Bulawayo being refurbished.

Construction work at ZRP Tomlinson Depot flats in Harare, which is meant to improve access to accommodation for members of the police force, is also progressing well.

Water and Sanitation

Construction of the $141 million Semwa Dam across Ruya River in Mashonaland Central resumed this year after Treasury allocated $20 million for the venture in the 2019 Budget.

The dam is now 30 percent complete.

Progress has also been noted in the construction of Marovanyati Dam in Buhera, Gwayi-Shangani Dam, Tuli-Manyange Dam in Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South respectively.

Government also ordered Harare City Council to pump raw water from Manyame Dam, which is less polluted compared to Lake Chivero.

The decision was taken to alleviate the water crisis in Harare and surrounding towns.

Innovation hubs and ICT

Innovation hubs at five of the country’s State universities were completed and commissioned last year.

The construction of the innovation hubs superstructures was completed at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), Midlands State University (MSU) and the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) while construction at the Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) is now 95 percent complete.

Government also completed 18 television transmitter sites under the Zimbabwe Digital Broadcasting Migration Project which seeks to migrate the country from analogue to digital television broadcasting.