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Herald Reporter

CABINET continues to monitor progress in the implementation of priority projects with reports for the third 100-Day Cycle of 2023 showing the precise percentages of completion.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere yesterday said the reports were presented by the Ministers of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion; Transport and Infrastructural Development; Mines and Mining Development and Environment, Climate and Wildlife.

Transport Minister Felix Mhona reported on progress at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport and on road construction.

“The contractor for the rehabilitation of the old international terminal building at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport has completed a needs assessment, and has started the rewiring for electricity and electronics, and replacement of partitions and the ceiling. Progress at the old terminal has reached 4 percent,” said Dr Muswere.

“So far 461,5km of the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge road has been completed and opened to traffic, leaving 118km to be completed and the Mbudzi Interchange has reached 54 percent of completion.

“Regarding the targeted 20km Harare-Kanyemba Road, construction of 15km to base 2 level has been completed, while progress on the other 5km is above 40 percent and construction and upgrading of the targeted 5km on the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road has been completed to base 1 level”.

Construction of the DISCO Carbon Steel Plant in Mashonaland East and Midlands to produce 600 000 tonnes of carbon steel a year is underway, and is targeted for completion in December 2023.

Phase 1 of the project will generate US$600 million a year and employ about 2 000 people. Construction of the Dinson Colliery Coke Oven Battery has reached 95 percent and completion is targeted for December this year.

Dr Muswere said the ZIMASCO high carbon ferrochrome smelter Furnace 1 is fully operational and has employed 87 local people. Furnace 2 was commissioned in June 2023, employing 173 people. 

Furnaces 7 and 8 will be commissioned on 31 December this year, while the sintering plant will be commissioned on 31 March next year.

“Regarding expansion of the Pickstone Peerless Mine, the Southwell shaft has been completed, with 270 people employed for underground operations, while completion of Phase 1 at Burnett Shaft is expected in April 2024,” said Dr Muswere.

“The Karo Platinum Mine at Selous in Mashonaland West Province is expected to commence production in June 2025, and will employ 850 people.”

Dr Muswere said tax revenues amounting to $2,7 trillion and non-tax revenues amounting to $6,3 billion were mobilised in September and actual expenditure on employment costs amounted to $1,083 trillion for the month of September 2023.

He said the installation of a wood drying kiln at Cashel Valley in Chimanimani is 50 percent complete and progress on the revival of Gutu Tree Nursery, Masvingo Province, is at 25 percent.

The Gonarezhou water rehabilitation project is 80 percent complete, construction of the Chimanimani and Muzarabani district offices is at 25 percent completion while the Zaka district office is 60 percent complete.