Story by Kenias Chivuzhe
THE development of smart cities has been cited as a national priority which requires Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to ensure its successful implementation.
Government has reiterated its commitment to promoting the development of smart cities to improve urban infrastructure in line with modern trends.
Addressing construction industry players during the Infrastructure and Construction Summit held in Nyanga recently, the Deputy Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities, Honourable Musa Ncube spoke on the importance of PPPs to achieve the national objective.
“The development of smart cities helps to alleviate developmental challenges affecting the country in terms of housing, infrastructure development, improving the residents’ social status including economic opportunities. Additionally, it helps to decongest the big cities and address the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals and foster inclusive development that leaves no place and no one behind as espoused in the Zimbabwe National Human Settlements Policy, the National Development Strategy 1 and the Vision 2030.By developing comprehensive Smart City Strategy, fostering collaborative public-private partnerships and investing in ICT infrastructure and skills development among others, Zimbabwe can unlock its smart city potential, drive economic growth, innovation, and the much needed sustainable development.”
Players in the construction industry are happy with the construction rebate system to incentivise the development of smart cities.
“We have a new law promoting investments in smart cities. You can import more than 80 products including tar and reclaim your duty .This only applies to smart cities development. This is a motivator to local authorities to start developing smart cities and it’s a plus to constructors operations. Cement however is not included under this arrangement as it is produced locally,” said Zimbuild Property Investments’ chief executive officer, Dr Tinashe Manzungu.
In its efforts to promote the development of smart cities, government is rolling out several initiatives aimed at regularisation of dysfunctional settlements in the country with the Presidential Title Deeds and Settlement Regularisation Programme being implemented.
