The second republic has entered into a number of private public partnerships to enhance the implementation of critical infrastructure development project; a Cabinet minister has said.
Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister, Felix Mhona said this during the handover of 220 housing units for civil servants built by the Zimborders Consortium in Beitbridge yesterday.
The consortium is currently transforming the Beitbridge Border Post in partnership with the Government into a modern urban.
A total of US$300 million has been committed to the project that is set for completion in June this year.
The massive infrastructure development initiative is being implemented on a 17 and half-years Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) concession between the Zimborders Consortium and the Government.
Under the arrangement, the consortium will manage and maintain the infrastructure for the duration of the BOT and recoup most of its invested capital from border toll fees.
“This project by Zimborders is fully financed with no immediate burden placed on the Government’s fiscus,” said the Minister.
“In fact, this surely is a great example of what can be achieved through successful Public-Private Partnerships and is testimony of the good that can be achieved when the government and the private sector work together towards the development of the nation.
“The project I am handing over today is a crucial component of a bigger project: The Beitbridge Border Post Upgrading and Modernisation Project, which was launched by President. Mnangagwa on 31 August last year”.
He said President Mnangagwa and his winning team, was forging ahead with a hands-on approach to development.
The project, he added resonates well with the head of state’s developmental principles.
The minister said in 2018 the government took a position to modernise the Beitbridge Border Post which was facing a myriad of problems.
One of the problems was the acute shortage of infrastructure, including decent housing for workers of state and quasi state agencies working at the border.
The Minister said Beitbridge town has its fair share of accommodation challenges due to the fast-growing population.
“Owing to these challenges, border agencies have been deploying less than optimum staff leading to reduced efficiency,” he said.
“The housing challenges had a negative effect of disenfranchising workers, thus leading to poor work ethics and other unfavourable vices.
As a result, the Beitbridge Border post was chosen to be a trailblazer and pioneer project of upgrading and modernising our borders, including a flourishing housing facility, which we are launching today. Under such circumstances, the Government saw it fit to include housing as part of this project”.
The minister said the construction of the 220 housing units was implemented under the Build Operate Transfer (BOT) model, within the framework of a Concession Agreement signed in 2018, between the Government of Zimbabwe and Andalusia Investments (Pvt) Ltd trading as Zimborders Consortium.
In terms of the Agreement, Zimborders shall operate the border infrastructure for the next seventeen and a half years, whereupon it will transfer it to Government for its operations.
“As most of you will be aware, the Project involved a number of non-port works which are meant to benefit the Beitbridge community and employees of border agencies.
“These works include, the construction of a fire station, upgrading of sewer and water reticulation and a reservoir for Beitbridge Town, a plant and animal quarantine facility and the construction of staff housing we are handing over today,” said Minister Mhona.
The minister said he was impressed by the quality of the civil works and that the housing complex was equipped with basic amenities required for a decent life.
He encouraged the beneficiaries to make good use of the facilities to ensure the accomplishment of the lofty objectives for which the huge expenditures were incurred in making the houses available.
The housing units were built in the form of a gated complex with its own independent sewer system comprising of a bio-digester.
“The complex also includes a community meet up area with a swimming pool, braai area and numerous playing areas for children, which dovetails with the social amenities dimension of the project,” said Minister Mhona.
He said other out of ports project under the PPPS include the construction of a mega reservoir of 11, 4 megalitres connected by a pipeline, which has been completed.
The water will not only serve the housing units but the entire Beitbridge town and neighbouring business centres.
“With more projects like this on the horizon, the landscape for public service delivery at the country’s border posts is fast changing,” he added.
“This model border post clearly showcases that Government is transforming the way services are designed and delivered to the masses.
Access to housing is a precondition for access to employment, education, health, and social services. In order to address housing challenges, our Government has included housing as one of the core needs for sustainable development”.
He said through the partnership they had also build a new fire station in the town to help build the capacity of the local authority to manage fires.
Speaking during the same event the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Dr July Moyo said the Beitbridge transformation project marked a paradigm shift in the way the government executes construction projects.
“As the Ministry responsible for the construction and maintenance of State infrastructure,” said Minister Moyo.
“We are elated to have been part of the development of such modern staff accommodation that will no doubt go a long way in improving the morale of Government staff stationed at the Beitbridge Border as they have a well built, clean, family centric, modern, safe home environment.
This dovetails with the modernised office accommodation they have become accustomed to in the modernised Border all in pursuit of vision 2030 – The Herald
