Harare, (New Ziana) – The government has called for stronger collaboration with Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the construction sector to accelerate housing delivery, infrastructure development and economic empowerment, saying the enterprises are “permanent builders” of the nation and central to achieving Vision 2030.
Speaking at the Zimbabwe Contracting Industry Association (ZCIA) Annual Conference in Harare on Friday, Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities, Hon. Soda Zhemu, said MSMEs were no longer fringe players but the heartbeat of the country’s built environment.
“Their challenges are our challenges. Their success is our collective success,” he said. “If Zimbabwe is to build resilient cities, decent housing and world-class infrastructure, we must build up our MSMEs.”
Zhemu commended the construction industry for helping surpass the initial National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) housing target of 220 000 units by 2023.
Cabinet subsequently revised the goal to one million units, and he revealed that 70 percent of the target had already been met.
The conference theme, “Breaking Silos, Building a Collaborative Built Environment”, dovetails with Government’s “Whole of Government, Whole of Society” approach under NDS1, Zhemu said, urging industry players to feed into the upcoming NDS2 strategy to address bottlenecks and enhance delivery.
Zhemu said MSMEs were leading the way in affordable housing, small-to-medium scale infrastructure projects and local service delivery — building schools, renovating clinics and creating jobs, particularly for youth and women.
“They are the quiet champions of sustainable construction, and we must amplify their efforts,” he said, adding that the Zimbabwe National Human Settlements Policy encourages mixed-use, high-rise MSME workspaces to accommodate more entrepreneurs in one space.
However, Zhemu acknowledged the obstacles facing small contractors, including limited access to finance, lack of equipment and exclusion from major procurement processes.
He said Government was committed to streamlining licensing, facilitating capital access, promoting technical training and ensuring fair participation in tenders.
He also urged MSMEs to adopt innovative and eco-friendly building methods, climate-resilient designs and smart technologies, while strengthening partnerships with tertiary and technical institutions to align quality standards with national requirements.
“As we move forward, our social amenities should be driven by sustainability programmes that promote the growth of MSMEs and empower our people,” he said. “Let this conference be a launch pad for renewed collaboration. Let us break the silo mentality and unlock the full potential of MSMEs in the built environment.”
New Ziana
