‘Project management skills crucial to Zim-Asset’

ZimAsset2

Business Editor
ZIMBABWE needs qualified and competent project managers who can apply their skills in the implementation of major economic projects, Tabetha Kanengoni-Malinga, the Minister of State in Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s Office said yesterday.

Addressing a business gathering to mark the 2015 International Project Management Day in Bulawayo, Minister Kanengoni-Malinga said both public and private sectors need competent project managers if the country’s to achieve economic growth.

“Gone are the days of managing projects by faith and hope or relying on trial and error because resources are finite and the costs of project failures go beyond quantifiable financial figures,” she said.

Minister Kanengoni-Malinga said it was therefore important for Zimbabwe to develop and retain sound project management skills and experience.

“One becomes a project manager by applying the skill and delivering tangibles appropriately,” she said.

The successful implementation of projects under Zim-Asset — the government’s five year economic blue-print (2013-18), Minister Kanengoni-Malinga said, required committed professionals who are able to deliver expected results on time and within set budgets.

About $27 billion is required to finance Zim-Asset projects across different sectors of the economy such as energy, tourism, roads, housing, agriculture and information communication technology.

Some of the projects are already underway while more private sector findung is needed to unlock  new opportunities and create jobs for ordinary Zimbabweans.

Minister Kanengoni-Malinga said a number of projects were being implemented by the government under Zim-Asset’s four clusters — food security and nutrition, value addition and beneficiation, infrastructure and utilities and social services and poverty eradication.

She said effective project management was a critical tool for transforming economies the world over.

“Indeed project management can’t be ignored as a key enabler in the transformation of Zim-Asset from blue-print to execution and finally tangible products and socio-economic impacts,” she said.

Minister Kanengoni-Malinga said the revival of Bulawayo industries, for instance, requires committed project managers.

She said VP Mphoko’s office had been tasked with the role of supervising all development projects that fall under the infrastructure and utilities and social services clusters and their relevant ministries.

The two clusters cover areas such as road and bridge construction, energy and power supply, water and sanitation provision, housing delivery, information communication technology and social infrastructure such as learning facilities and health centres.

This year’s International Project Management Day ran under the theme “Global project management standards for local development”.

The event was organised by the Project Management Zimbabwe (PMZ), which was set up in 2009.

The institute runs professional training programmes through the private-public partnership (PPP) arrangements at polytechnics and private colleges across the country.

Minister Kanengoni-Malinga said the government was fully committed to supporting skills and professional development efforts as this was in line with Zim-Asset’s human resource development thrust.

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