Bulawayo, (New Ziana)- Infrastructure provides the foundation for economic development, and present-day constructions are built to serve contemporary needs as well as the prosperity of future generations, an official said.
Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company chairman Busisa Moyo said this on Thursday while giving an update on preparations for the premier Africa Infrastructure and Built Environment Confex (AfriConfex) 2025.
This year the AfriConfex will for the first time run concurrently with the premier mining, engineering and transport expo, Mine Entra, from October 8-10 at the Zimbabwe International Conference and Exhibition Smart City (ZICES).
The AfriConfex will bring together stakeholders from across the built environment value chain including architects, engineers, urban planners, policymakers, investors, and development partners.
“Infrastructure is the skeleton of economic development, and what we build today must serve not just today’s needs, but tomorrow’s generations. AfriConfex offers a unique platform for collaboration where public and private sector players, innovators and financiers can co-create solutions that work for Zimbabwe and Africa,” said Moyo.
Running under the theme “Smart Moves: Powering Zimbabwe’s Infrastructure Evolution,” the event will be officially opened by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Felix Mhona.
The theme reflects the urgency to act smartly and collaboratively as the country pursues the vision to position itself as a prosperous, upper-middle-income economy. “We are promising a bold and future-focused agenda aimed at transforming Zimbabwe’s infrastructure landscape through innovation, sustainability, and collaboration.
This year’s edition will push the conversation beyond infrastructure delivery to explore the way climate resilience, smart technologies, and inclusive urban design can power Zimbabwe’s next development frontier,” said Moyo.
He said this year`s edition will also be more than an exhibition, but a national imperative which comes at a time the country should invest in smart, scalable and people centred infrastructure solutions.
“The conference will tackle pressing topics including smart city development, innovative construction technologies, sustainable transport systems, and inclusive urban planning, themes directly aligned with Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 and Africa’s Agenda 2063,”he said.
Moyo noted that the event has attracted strong domestic and regional interest, with participation confirmed from a wide array of sectors, including local authorities, construction companies, engineering associations, development finance institutions, and academia.
“The co-location of AfriConfex with Mine Entra this year was a strategic decision meant to encourage cross-sectoral synergies, given the interdependence between mining and infrastructure development. Whether it’s roads, energy, housing or logistics, infrastructure underpins the growth of all sectors. AfriConfex brings everyone to the table to discuss how we build faster, better, and more sustainably,” he said.
The AfriConfex was launched as Zimbabwe’s flagship infrastructure and built environment forum in 2022, designed to respond to the country’s growing need for coordinated and modernised infrastructure planning.
As urbanisation accelerates and climate-related pressures mount, such platforms are playing an increasingly central role in bringing together technical expertise, investment, and policy to shape sustainable cities and resilient infrastructure systems.
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