The Sunday News
Tinomuda Chakanyuka Sunday News Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset) has started bearing fruit, three years into its implementation, with a number of notable projects initiated under the framework now complete, while some are at an advanced stages of completion. Zim Asset is a five-year development policy launched in 2013, anchored on four strategic clusters — value addition and beneficiation, infrastructure and utilities, food security and nutrition, social services and poverty eradication.
According to a cluster progress report availed during a Stakeholders Workshop on the Zim Asset Communication and Media Strategy held in Harare on Tuesday, the infrastructure and utilities cluster has recorded the highest number of projects that have been completed.
According to the report, as at 30 June some of the projects that had been completed in the cluster include the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport which was commissioned in 2013 and the refurbishment of the Harare and Victoria Falls International Airport.
“The runway rehabilitation and airfield ground lighting system of the Harare International Airport is underway and progress stands at about 65 percent completion, while the second phase of the runway rehabilitation has started, albeit facing funding challenges,” reads the report.
It noted that the refurbishment of the Victoria Falls International Airport was almost 95 percent complete.
“The project entails the construction of a new four-kilometre runway, a new international terminal building, upgraded domestic terminal building, new fire station, new control tower and state-of-the-art specialist aviation equipment at a total cost of $150 million,” reads the report.
According to the report, construction of the runway, terminal building and control tower has been completed as well as car parks, taxi ways and aprons which now waits markings and final inspection.
“The fire station is now 95 percent complete, while conversion of old terminal building to a domestic terminal in progress,” further reads the report.
The progress report pointed out that the country has also completed the rehabilitation and resurfacing of the 821km Plumtree to Mutare highway and construction of nine toll plazas along the route at a cost of US$206 million. It said refurbishment of the Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu highway was set to start soon after the developer was awarded the contract and agreements are being finalised.
Under the same cluster, the Government has also managed to construct and repair nine bridges at a total cost of about $10 million, with all the bridges now commissioned and fully functional. The bridges include Save, Chivake, Nyahodi, Zibagwe, Mbembezi, Musavezi, Nyan’ombe, Bhekaphezulu and Wabayi. Other bridges such as Kandeya and Savara are at advanced stages of construction.
The report also showed notable milestones in the energy sector among them an increase in fuel supply, increase in access to power in both urban and rural settlements and an increased usage of green energy among other alternative forms of energy.
“Improvement of fuel supply in the country came with the introduction of petrol/ethanol blending which is now at E15. Pumping capacity increased from 120 million litres per month to 180 million litres month while discussions for the setting up of a second pipeline are ongoing with neighbouring Mozambique.”
The report noted that refurbishment of Kariba Hydro plant was now at 51 percent.
“Shortages of power in the country have significantly eased over the last two years owing to a number of interventions, which have also seen an increase in access to power in rural areas.”
It added that at least 570 000 prepaid meters have been installed countrywide out of a target of 800 000. The report also read that significant successes in water supply and sanitation services, with a number of projects now complete, while others are at advanced stages and progressing well.
One of the major projects, the Tokwe Mukorsi Dam is 90 percent complete with completion anticipated by December 2016.
According to the report, Bulawayo and Harare water supply and sewer systems plant have been complete, while the $10 million Beitbridge water supply project and the $4 million Wenimbi pipeline project was also complete and were just waiting commissioning.
In terms of rural water supply 1 398 boreholes have been drilled and 10 006 rehabilitated through the Rural WASH programme.
In the area of public amenities, the report highlighted that the new Parliament building whose designs were now complete, topographical survey done, and the final budget submitted to Ministry of Finance.
In the social services and poverty eradication cluster, the report said 19 123 housing units have been constructed against a target of 25 000. On schools it noted: “out of the targeted 25 schools, construction is happening at 19 schools.”
In the Food and Nutrition Cluster, the report read that equipment under the More Food for Africa has already been distributed to 65 irrigation sites where more than 2 417 people benefited.
The senior principal director in the Department of Public Affairs and Knowledge Management in the Office of the President, Ambassador Mary Mubi, said there was a need to communicate some of the success of Zim Asset.
She said the Government wanted to open communication avenues for the public to interact with policy makers as Zimbabwe implements the economic blueprint.
@irielyan
