Harare, (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe is offering a wide range of opportunities for contractors as the government continues to drive high-impact projects that are ready for investment and strategic partnerships, a Cabinet Minister has said.
The Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe, said this on Thursday at the Construction Industry Federation of Zimbabwe (CIFOZ) and African Federation for Construction Contractors Association (AFCCA) conference on Strategic Partnerships for Sustainable Infrastructure Development Across Africa.
He outlined key opportunities for contractors, including affordable housing, Special Economic Zones (SEZs), and the Mt Hampden development project, among others.
“There are many opportunities for contractors within the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works for investment and partnerships. A new city is taking shape in Mt Hampden, where a massive project requires world-class infrastructure, commercial hubs, and smart city technologies. We are also revitalizing old suburbs and markets, such as the one being modernized in Mbare, through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs),” he said.
“Given our mandate to deliver over one million affordable housing units, we invite contractors to bring innovative, low-cost building technologies to help scale this effort. We also have financial resources being channelled to our 92 local authorities through devolution funds. There are extensive opportunities in both rural and urban infrastructure, and contractors can take advantage of these to build bridges, clinics, administrative centres, and other key facilities,” he added.
There are also opportunities within Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Harare, Bulawayo, and Victoria Falls, which offer incentives such as tax holidays and duty-free imports of equipment, particularly for construction and manufacturing.
Garwe commended the partnership between AFCCA and CIFOZ, describing it as a convergence of African expertise aimed at transforming the construction industry and infrastructure landscape on the continent.
He reiterated that Africa’s resources should primarily benefit African economies, noting that the construction and infrastructure sector provides a foundation for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) through knowledge transfer, financial sovereignty, and the promotion of locally sourced and processed materials.
“I urge delegates to move beyond networking towards concrete contracting. Let a Zimbabwean firm partner with a North African counterpart, and let an East African contractor mentor a local Small-to-Medium Enterprise (SME),” he said.
“When we collaborate, we reduce the cost of doing business, mitigate risks, and ensure that the wealth generated from our infrastructure remains within the hands of African workers and entrepreneurs,” Garwe added.
New Ziana
