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Africa Moyo and Freeman Razemba, Harare Bureau

ZIMBABWE’S infrastructure development agenda is gaining momentum, with public-private partnerships (PPPs) adopted for road projects and US$2,5 million released to accelerate the construction of Lake Gwayi-Tshangani, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, has said. 

The transformative Lake Gwayi-Tshangani construction project aims to enhance water supply to Bulawayo and its surrounding areas.

Mooted in 1912 by the settler colonial regime, the construction project failed to take off on several occasions until the advent of the Second Republic in November 2017.

Out of the 72 metres of the dam wall to be constructed, 39 metres had been completed as of last  year.

Not much work was done on the dam wall last year, with most efforts dedicated towards the 10-megawatt hydroelectric project being developed on site.

Lake Gwayi-Tshangani, designed by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) and constructed by China Water and Electric Corporation, will have a capacity of 650 million cubic metres.

Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa)

In an exclusive interview with our Harare Bureau, Prof Ncube said there was no going back on infrastructure projects, which have been the signature of the Second Republic, adding that Government is also embracing a public-private partnership model for road construction. 

PPPs are critical in funding infrastructure projects as they reduce the burden on Treasury.

“The Government is still focused on the public sector investment programme for roads, dams and other areas. Now, it’s also true that last year we had quite a cluster around the SADC Summit on the northern side of Harare, also around the New City, to get ready for the summit and that was a good thing, but infrastructure still needed to be done,” said Prof Ncube.

“The general infrastructure programme is still on course and the Government is focused on it. I mean, there are still some points of completion to be done on the Harare-Beitbridge Road, we have started on the Harare-Chirundu Road as well, but also, we are now blending the model for road construction with the public-private partnership model. 

“You will notice that, for instance, for the Harare-Nyamapanda Road, including the border post, that has been concessioned out to the private sector, with a 25-year concession, and the private sector will invest and then recoup its investment through the toll fees.”

He said the same model applies for the Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road, some of whose stretches are presently in bad shape.

Prof Ncube said Government is concessioning the modernisation of that highway although in the meantime, there will be some work to patch up the worst parts of the road, especially near the Hwange area, while the private sector player mobilises resources and contracts are finalised.

“We also continue to invest in the water sector. For example, last week, we released about US$2,5 million towards the Lake Gwayi-Tshangani Dam, as an example. And then for the Glass Block Dam in Bulawayo, we are again saying the (Bulawayo) City Council should go ahead and have that done on a public-private partnership basis. 

“We continue again to work on Kunzvi Dam, to supply water to Harare. So really, the infrastructure agenda continues. By the way, it is infrastructure investment that also drives economic growth. That is how you invest in future growth in the first place.

“So as a Government, we cannot afford to pull back on that, because then we will be pulling back on investment and growth,” said Prof Ncube. 

The Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa has prioritised completion of the Lake Gwayi-Tshangani as it is primed to provide essential water resources and support agricultural activities, ultimately contributing to food security. 

Despite the challenges posed by limited resources, the Government remains resolute in its commitment to infrastructure development. 

Another key project, the Mbudzi Interchange in Harare, set to be named Trabablas Interchange on completion, is also on track to be finalised by May 31, according to Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona. 

Minister Felix Mhona

This US$88 million project, located at the intersection of Simon Mazorodze Road, Chitungwiza Road, and High Glen Road, is a key infrastructure development aimed at alleviating traffic congestion in southern Harare. 

It features 15 bridges, all of which have been completed.

The Mbudzi Interchange is expected to significantly improve traffic flow, reduce transit times, and minimise accidents in the area. 

It is being funded through local financial institutions and executed by a joint venture of three local construction companies: Tensor Systems, Fossil Contracting, and Masimba Construction, operating under the banner of Tefoma Construction.

Minister Mhona said other major road projects, including the Harare-Beitbridge Highway, which has 88km remaining to be completed, are progressing well. 

Contractors have already mobilised to finish this stretch, which includes 15 bridges, mini-interchanges at Rothmans and ZBC, and other critical infrastructure. 

Minister Mhona expressed confidence that the entire highway, including all bridges and interchanges, will be completed this year.

“You have seen that the strategy of the ministry is to attend to our trunk roads. We shall then connect with other neighbouring countries,” he said. 

“Now you have witnessed the North-South Corridor and the Beira Corridor, where we are connecting with other countries. I am happy, again, to say we are completing the Beitbridge-Harare section. 

“Contractors have started mobilising again back to site and as we speak, they are attending to their sections. So we assure the people of Zimbabwe that come this year, the road will be complete with all the 15 bridges. 

“We are talking of bridges across rivers, bridges over rail. We have got two on that particular stretch. We have got also mini-interchanges.”

Minister Mhona said they have been monitoring the project since it is one of their flagship projects. 

He also confirmed that they were starting to progress on the Harare-Chirundu Road and they were already working on a finance arrangement so they do the entire 352km right up to the border post and also rehabilitate the Chirundu Border Post. 

The Makuti section of this road is already being worked on by the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA), and contractors have mobilised to complete the remaining sections.

Minister Mhona said another significant project in the pipeline is the Christmas Pass bypass in Mutare, aimed at diverting heavy traffic away from the accident-prone area.

Government has partnered Leengate (Private) Limited to construct a 26km road that will provide an alternative route to the Forbes Border Post.

But Prof Ncube called on contractors to do a thorough job to avoid being asked by the Ministry of Transport to redo any stretches that get damaged quickly. 

Fossil Contracting has already been ordered to redo Mama Mafuyane Drive, formerly Lorraine Drive in Harare, after the road crumbled in no time. 

Said Prof Ncube: “There have been a few cases where the Ministry of Transport has instructed contractors to come and redo or revamp roads. That’s not abnormal for them to act in that way.

“So this is clearly an area where, again, we have to always set aside budgets for upgrades, for maintenance, but also be tough on the quality of the roads in the first place.”