THE number of people employed in the construction industry has increased to 17 000 in the last five years from 10 000 driven by the massive infrastructure projects the Government has embarked on.
Following the ushering of the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa in November 2017, the Government has prioritised infrastructure development as a key enabler to economic growth and development.
This also dovetails with the Government’s vision of transforming Zimbabwe into an upper middle-income economy status by 2030, which is anchored by the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1), a five-year economic blueprint launched in 2021.
Against this background, the Government has awarded local contractors tenders to develop Zimbabwe’s infrastructure and thus promoting viability of the domestic players in the construction sector.
In an interview, the Construction Industry Federation of Zimbabwe (CIFOZ) chief executive Mr Martin Chingaira said: “In the past we used to have an average of 10 000 workers in the construction industry but now we are talking of an average of about 17 000 and once employment is increased the whole economy will start to transform for the better.
“By virtue of people being employed everyone will start to look for commodities for them to improve their lives and along the lines, it means all manufacturers must also upgrade themselves to meet demand and the economy automatically will be growing.”
And as part of rebuilding the economy, the Government has identified infrastructure as one of the key economic enablers and thus priority has been placed on infrastructural development, looking at road and dam rehabilitation and construction projects, irrigation rehabilitation, and housing programmes.
Private players in the construction industry were this year continuing to participate in the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme under phase II from which the Government has placed priority on trunk and tertiary road projects in provinces and districts, as well as major arteries in urban areas.
The infrastructural development projects that the Government has or is undertaking include the US$88 million Mbudzi Traffic Interchange meant to eliminate congestion and complement the ongoing upgrading works on the Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu highway.
The Government is also pursuing the Gwayi-Shangani Dam in Matabeleland North province whose commissioning is planned for this year and the Kunzvi Dam construction project in Mashonaland East.
Once completed, the massive water bodies would propel sustainable economic growth and development through supplying water, irrigation as well as tourism and recreational facilities in the Gwayi area. – The Chronicle
