by Rudo Saungweme
The new dispensation’s objective is to improve the face of Zimbabwe to a middle income status economy by 2030.
Zimbabwe government is sourcing funds for infrastructure development. So far, $175 million have been approved by the government towards the road rehabilitation project under the Public Sector Investment Programme and the Emergency Road Rehabilitation program.
Statistics states that the treasury-funded road construction projects have gone up in the new political dispensation by 200 percent compared to the previous government and at least 50 percent compared to the Rhodesian government.
Government will also construct five bridges which are, Bubi bridge, Chilonga bridge, Kawonga River bridge, Nyamangura river bridge and Jeka river bridge. The road dualisation of the major high-ways like Harare-Bulawayo and the Harare –Mutare Highway up to Melfort are almost complete.
President Mnangagwa commissioned the construction of the $1 billion Hwange 7 and 8 Power extension as the country moves towards energy self-sufficiency as a key enabler to a middle income economy. Zimbabwe imports power from Eskom South Africa and HCB in Mozambique so the move to begin operations on Hwange 7 and 8 Power extension will enable Zimbabwe to be self-sufficient in power generation in the long term.
The expansion will generate 600 megawatts which will see the company double its current average production to 1 200 megawatts.
The new dispensation is also in a process to build 17-state-of-the-art primary and secondary schools in resettlement areas. In Headlands the building of the school to match the set standards is almost complete.
The new dispensation is also targeting information technology as a move that will drive Zimbabwe to a middle income status. President Mnangagwa on 15 July 2017, launched the first online and mobile platform for the trading of shares in Africa. He said that, the development is in line with the goal to modernize and industrialize Zimbabwe to become a middle income country of $3 500 per capita.
President Mnangagwa is also engaging and re-engaging the international community in shaping up Zimbabwe. He invited the Chinese Communication Construction Company to come and partner Zimbabwe in modernising and building infrastructure in the areas of highway construction, rail upgrading and expansion of infrastructure. The CCCC company will soon set up its office in Zimbabwe.
The Diaspora Infrastructure Development Group of a consortium of Zimbabwean investors living abroad will also play a part in leading the new Zimbabwe to a middle income economy. The company won a tender to recapitalise the government-owned National Railways of Zimbabwe with $400 million in a joint bid with South African logistics group Transnet.
The new administration has also resorted to command housing. Vice President Constantino Chiwenga assured the people that by 2030 every Zimbabwean will have access to decent and affordable housing while ensuring that our towns and cities are well planned and organised in a way that allows sustainable growth. VP Chiwenga assured the people that those with illegal structures will not be left homeless but the government will build better houses for them.
