Staff Reporter
Zimbabwe completed 287 different projects covering various sectors of the economy as the President Mnangagwa’s administration continues to embark on life-changing developmental projects towards the attainment of an upper-middle income society by 2030.
Yesterday, Cabinet received and noted the 2022 Annual Report presented by the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Monitoring Implementation of Government Programmes, Dr Joram Gumbo, on implementation of 100-Day cycle projects being implemented by the Second Republic.
Speaking during a post-Cabinet briefing yesterday, Acting Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Dr Jenfan Muswere said 287 projects were implemented across the country’s 10 provinces.
Highlights of some of the projects that are already benefiting communities include six health posts, namely; Mashamvura in Chivhu, Mutasa in Buhera, and Maringazuva, Zvakanaka, Nyamatito and Nyaurungwe in Gokwe North were completed.
Twenty five boreholes were alao drilled, with 34 health facilities installed with solar power and 402 others connected to the internet.
In the mining sector, nine plants are under construction and these are expected to contribute to the attainment of the US$12 billion mining economy by the end of this year.
The projects include the Dinson Colliery Coke Oven Battery Construction in Matabeleland North, lithium processing plant at Sabi Star in Manicaland, Mimosa Mining Company optimisation of the concentrator plant in the Midlands, the RioZim Murowa 500TPH greenfields diamond plant and establishment of a ferrochrome smelter at Amazon in Midlands, and Tshingshan iron ore and chrome/coke value addition project in Mashonaland East.
“The Mimosa and Murowa plants are set for commissioning this year.
Said Dr Muswere: “In the transport sector, a cumulative 24 100km of road were rehabilitated under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme 2 (ERRP 2).
“In agriculture, in a bid to improve food self-sufficiency, the Government is increasing land under irrigation and procuring agricultural machinery.”
The initiatives include the development of 326 hectares under irrigation at Muzvezve and Kanyemba irrigation schemes; 350 hectares were cleared for irrigation in the Lowveld irrigated agriculture belt; 98 boreholes drilled for irrigation purposes across the provinces; 429 boreholes were drilled under the Presidential Borehole Drilling Programme; five piped water schemes were completed at Nyamandhlovu, Chitida, Muyambi, Ngomahuru and Gonde.
In addition, 330 423kg of tick grease were distributed to farmers; 162 059 chicks were distributed under the Presidential Poultry Pass-on Programme; and 995 tractors and 14 combine harvesters delivered under the Belarus Farm Mechanisation Facility Phase 2.
Dr Muswere added that 78 789 ha was put under wheat in 2022, resulting in the bumper harvest of over 385 000 tonnes being attained.
Zimbabwe requires 360 000 to be self-sufficient for a year, implying that there is excess wheat.
In the manufacturing sector, the projects being implemented are meant to value-add and beneficiate agriculture and mining products.
The projects include the installation of a state-of-the-art leather processing plant by Zambezi Tanners in Bulawayo, the New Blending Plant and Granulation plants at ZimPhos in Harare, and the wheat milling plant at Mega Market in Manicaland.
In terms of infrastructure development, the flagship project was the Beitbridge Border Post Upgrading.
It was completed and commissioned in September last year by President Mnangagwa.
The project has not only created over 2 000 jobs for local people, but brought massive efficiencies such that truck drivers spend no more than an hour to have everything cleared.
In terms of information, communication technology, the Government embarked on a number of projects to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas.
This saw 914 schools, 105 health institutions and 26 vocational training centres being connected to the internet.
ICT laboratories and 31 Community Information Centres were established across the country.
In respect of governance issues, four magistrates courts were constructed in Epworth, Chiredzi, Lupane, and Gwanda, to allow people in those areas to have their cases tried closeby so as to broaden access to justice.
The Epworth court is now complete and awaits official opening by President Mnangagwa.