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Lovemore Chikova-Development Dialogue

The New Dispensation has entrenched the spirit of development in Zimbabwe in the last three years, such that what some thought could not be achieved is now a common occurrence.

Everywhere you go in the country, there is something about development taking places in various sectors, especially with the availing of devolution funds to the lower tiers of governance.

This article is a glimpse of some of the major developmental projects implemented by the New Dispensation in fulfilment of the Government’s desire to improve the people lives.

Road infrastructure 

Massive roads rehabilitation works are being carried out in various parts of the country and signify progress being made by the New Dispensation in its commitment to changing the country’s economic status.

The works indicate a sound understanding of the important link between a good road network and development.

Those who have been on the Harare-Beitbridge Highway in recent times will testify of the enormous changes that have happened there.

A completely new structure has been put in place, with a new surface that makes the road outstanding on areas that have been opened to traffic.

The road works are on course and it is expected they will be completed before the end of next year.

In many other sections of the roads, detours have been created along the road, some running for several kilometres, as the original tarred road is being completely removed to be replaced by a new one.

But this is not taking place on the Harare-Beitbridge Highway alone.

Rehabilitation work has been completed on sections of the Harare-Chirundu Highway, where engineers used the latest technologies in road construction.

The Japanese government extended a US$21m grant to the government of Zimbabwe for the road project aimed at improving the steep gradients on the Makuti-Chirundu section of the North-South corridor.

President has since the Emergency Road Repair Programme Phase 2, which has extended road rehabilitation to towns and cities.

Already, major works are taking place on Seke Road linking Harare and Chitungwiza, with other roads in the capital already rehabilitated or on course to be worked on.

Many other roads have been targeted throughout the country, with some at an advanced stages of being rehabilitated.

Devolution 

The New Dispensation has set in motion the devolution process, which is provided for in the Constitution as one of the key pillars for development, with various activities being carried out to advance the concept in all parts of the country.

Government has already started the first phase of devolution by availing financial resources to local authorities, which is channelled towards projects aimed at uplifting lives of the people.

Various projects in areas like clinics, schools, bridges, roads and dams have been carried out throughout the country using devolution funds.

Airports 

The rehabilitation of airports is one of the major developmental projects being carried out by the New Dispensation.

The expansion works Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport are on-going and involve construction of the international terminal building and aprons, installation of four new bridges, a secondary radar system, construction of a VVIP pavilion and an airfield ground lighting and communication system.

 The international terminal building and the domestic terminal building will be refurbished, with the project increasing the airport’s holding capacity to six million people per annum from 2,5 million.

Victoria Falls International Airport and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport have already been upgraded.

 Water infrastructure 

Marovanyati Dam located in Buhera district in Manicaland province was recently commissioned by President Mnangagwa.

The dam has since transformed Buhera’s landscape, and is already benefiting communities who now boost of a dependable water resource, guaranteeing the district food security through irrigation schemes, fishing and livestock.

Gwayi-Shangani Dam in Matabeleland North province in Hwange District is on course for completion and will change the whole outlook of the belt leading to Bulawayo as their plans for irrigation schemes along the way. The dam was first planned 109 years ago, but very little had been done until the coming in of the Second Republic, which committed huge amounts of money for its fast tracked construction.

Muchekeranwa Dam, formerly known as Causeway Dam, which lies between Mashonaland East and Manicaland provinces was commissioned recently by President Mnangagwa soon after completion.

The dam will provide water to Machiki Irrigation Scheme earmarked for local farmers and villagers who were moved to pave way for its construction a few years back.

Muchekeranwa Dam is expected to provide water to Marondera town and Marondera University of Agricultural Science and Technology for both domestic and industrial purposes.

There will be a project under the Presidential Community Fisheries Scheme at the dam, an irrigation project and the construction of the Muchekeranwa-Wenimbi pipeline in Mashonaland East.

Feasibility studies are already being undertaken Runde-Tende Dam will be built on the confluence of Runde and Tende rivers in south western Chivi in Masvingo province.

Located at the confluence of Tugwi and Mukosi rivers, Tugwi Mukosi Dam is another water infrastructure set to change the people’s lives.

The development master plan for the dam has since been completed, and all is set for benefits to start accruing.

Mining sector 

A lot is happening in the mining sector which aiming at becoming a US$12 billion industry within the next few years.

The Great Dyke Investment (GDI) platinum project in Mashonaland West is already taking shape and poised to become the second biggest platinum venture in Zimbabwe after Zimplats.

The joint venture between Zimbabwe and Russia is expected to carry out massive infrastructure development and create jobs.

The US$4,2 billion Karo Resources platinum mine project in Mhondoro-Ngezi, also in Mashonaland West, is another massive mining project expected to change the course of the country’s development.

The company has completed some of the crucial stages towards full-fledged mining, including an aero-magnetic survey, digital terrain mapping and aero-magnetic and geophysics study of the area.

Lithium mining venture, Arcadia Lithium Project, is another huge game changer in the mining sector, which has already secured Special Economic Zone status.

Located 38 kilometres east of Harare, the project recently discovered possible large deposits of caesium, a much sought after chemical element or metal used mainly in high temperature or high pressure oil and gas drilling, at its Arcadia Mine. 

Power generation 

Since the coming in of the Second Republic in 2017, a lot of progress has been registered in the power generation sector.

The New Dispensation has committed itself to ensuring that it provides the basis for kick-starting industrialisation and modernisation through the provision of electricity.

Power projects being undertaken in Hwange alone will ensure that the country generate in excess of 6 900MW of power by 2023, making the country self-sufficient in electricity and an exporter to regional countries.

The expansion of Hwange Unit 7 and 8 is ongoing and is expected to contribute at least 600MW to the national grid, while other projects in the area include the Zambezi Gas and Coal to generate 750 MW and the Western Areas which will input 600MW. 

In the same Hwange area, Jinan will generate 600MW, Tsingshan will have 100MW and the Zimbabwe Zhongxin Electrical Energy will contribute 430MW.

Government is also reviving the Bulawayo and Harare Power stations and upgrading the whole electricity distribution infrastructure throughout the country.

A number of solar projects are being implemented in various parts of the country and are expected to contribute at least 300MW to start with.

Agriculture 

The New Dispensation has encouraged the acquisition of irrigation equipment such as centre-pivots to enhance the fight against climate change induced droughts.

Command Agriculture has been reformed into a private sector funded Smart Agriculture where farmers now have to deal with to access funding for their farming.

The singing of the Global Compensation Deed to compensate white former farmers for improvements on land, coupled with a land audit and downsizing of farms, has given new impetus in agriculture.

The net effect of these moves is the assurance of respect for property rights and that land is open for investment.

The newly introduced Pfumvudza farming method is credited for contributing to the bumper harvest that was witnessed last season, and it is expected to play an important role going forward.

Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency

The setting up of the Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency (ZIDA) is proving to be a game changer that will ensure the attraction of foreign direct investment to the country.

ZIDA is meant to enhance the ease of doing business in line with the “Zimbabwe is open for business” stance taken by the New Dispensation. 

The investment agency is part of the solution to the problems that have been bedevilling efforts to attract both local and foreign direct investment. With ZIDA, it shows that President Mnangagwa is not only proffering solutions to the country’s developmental agenda, but is going ahead to establish the necessary institutions to ensure the set goals are attained.

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