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The Year 2015 promises to be a good year for Zimbabwe following revelations that mega power deals sealed by President Mugabe in China last year have taken off. Construction is reported to have started at key projects expected to add 1,500 megawatts to the national grid.

The projects are Kariba South Hydro Power Station (300MW), Hwange Thermal Power Station expansion (600MW) and construction of the Gwayi-Shangani Thermal Power Station (600MW), all scheduled for completion in 2018. China Exim Bank recently released $80 million advance payment to Sinohydro for the expansion of the Kariba South Hydro Power Station. Manufacturing of turbines and generators for the $533 million project has started in China.

The same company has also been contracted to expand Hwange Thermal Power Station at a cost of $1,1 billion. Government officials are expected to visit China soon to finalise the funding arrangement for the project. China Africa Sunlight Energy (CASECO) which won the bid to construct the $2 billion Gwayi-Shangani Thermal Power Station has completed clearance work on site with actual construction expected to start in July.

CASECO deputy general manager Retired Colonel Charles Mugari said clearance of the concession at Gwayi was complete, paving way for construction of a magazine plant for explosives storage. It is our fervent hope that other big projects planned for this year will soon take off. Last September Zimbabwe and Russia commissioned a historic $3 billion platinum mining project in Darwendale that is expected to stimulate growth in various sectors of the economy over the next few years.

The Darwendale project is said to be the biggest joint venture project between government and foreign investors since independence. The Darwendale mine is expected to produce nearly a million ounces of platinum annually. The investment in the Darwendale project is expected to reach $4,2 billion as there are plans to set up a refinery to promote value addition.

Zimbabwe at the moment is exporting raw platinum to South Africa and in the process exporting jobs. The country is as a result not deriving maximum benefits from its resources. It is against this background that government has directed platinum mining companies to set up refineries here in order to add value to the resources and at the same time create jobs for locals. The year 2015 should be the year for action.

The President, Cde Mugabe, has already warned cabinet ministers that he would not tolerate individuals who spend a lot of time in meetings instead of being in the field directing implementation of development projects. He said instead of being invited to open workshops, he would want to be invited to assess progress in the implementation of projects or to commission completed projects.

A lot has been said about reviving industries especially in Bulawayo which used to be the country’s industrial hub but nothing has materialised. This year should therefore see the many plans to revive Bulawayo industries come to fruition. The European Union which for about a decade imposed illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe is softening up as many of its members have realised that it is them who are losing out on the many investment opportunities in Zimbabwe.

The country which is endowed with mineral resources that include diamonds, gold, platinum, chrome, iron and many more, continues to discover new deposits, hence foreign investors are falling over each other as they scramble to get the opportunity to invest in the country. We want to once again remind government ministers, captains of commerce and industry, foreign and local investors that the thrust this year is implementing investment projects.