By Archford Chirimudombo
Harare, (New Ziana) – Government has spent ZiG11.8 billion on infrastructure rehabilitation and development during the first half of 2026, accounting for the bulk of the ZiG13.4 billion appropriated for the sector in this year’s national budget, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has said.
Presenting the 2026 Mid-Term Budget Review on Thursday, Prof Ncube said the expenditure was directed towards transport, water and sanitation, housing and social amenities, information and communication technology (ICT), and the health sector as Government accelerates investment in critical public infrastructure.
He said the water and sanitation sector received the largest allocation of ZiG4.9 billion, followed by transport with ZiG3.9 billion. Housing and social amenities accounted for ZiG1.6 billion, while ZiG679.5 million was spent on health infrastructure and ZiG506.7 million on ICT development.
To sustain infrastructure financing while easing pressure on the national fiscus, Prof Ncube said Government is establishing an Infrastructure Development Fund (IDF) that will mobilise additional capital from local, regional and international financial institutions.
The proposed fund will leverage 17 identified revenue streams to finance rehabilitation and development projects across the energy, irrigation, education, health, rail and road sectors, broadening the country’s infrastructure financing base.
“As part of this initiative, an arrangement has been made with local financial institutions to mobilise US$400 million loan towards completion of the remaining 33km on the Harare-Beitbridge Road, construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of the Harare Chirundu Road and Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road, among other high priority road projects.
“Already, US$100 million has been secured and awaiting fulfilment of conditions precedent. The repayments of loans will be ringfenced from collections from ZINARA,” he said.
Prof Ncube said Treasury prioritised road infrastructure during the review period, disbursing ZiG3.9 billion to support the Road Development Programme in recognition of the transport sector’s strategic role in promoting trade, industrialisation and regional integration.
He said notable progress had been achieved on several flagship road projects, including the completion of the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway, while rehabilitation and widening works on the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road continued, with 57.2 kilometres of the 440.4-kilometre highway now open to traffic.
Construction also advanced on the Harare-Kanyemba Road, where 18.3 kilometres of the dualised Harare-Mazowe section have been completed and commissioned for public use.
Turning to digital infrastructure, Prof Ncube said Government spent ZiG506.7 million to expand ICT infrastructure aimed at narrowing the urban-rural digital divide and driving innovation in key sectors such as health, education and agriculture.
“To support water and sanitation programmes, ZiG4.9 billion was disbursed during the first six months of 2026, covering dam construction and the Presidential Borehole Drilling Programme.
“In addition, a total of 526 boreholes were drilled during the first half of the year under the Presidential Rural Development Programme, bringing the cumulative total number to 5 395 boreholes drilled country wide,” he said.
The continued investment in transport, digital connectivity and water infrastructure underscores Government’s strategy of using public infrastructure development to stimulate economic growth, improve service delivery and strengthen national productivity.
New Ziana
