Story by Theophilus Chuma
GOVERNMENT policies aimed at accelerating infrastructure development are driving increased participation by local contractors in major public projects as Zimbabwe advances its development agenda under the 2026 Zimbabwe Infrastructure Investment Programme.
Infrastructure development has remained a central pillar of the Second Republic’s strategy over the past nine years, with significant investments directed towards roads, bridges and other critical public facilities.
Vice President General (Rtd) Dr Constantino Chiwenga reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for infrastructure growth during a tour of the new headquarters of the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ), currently under construction in Harare.
The Vice President expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved on the project and confidence that construction targets would be met.
“The building looks solid and strong, and the dates they have given me indicate that soon after Christmas, they will be done. I hope they are going to meet that target based on what I have seen. Mr Manzungu and his team have done a commendable job. The architect also spoke to me with great confidence, and you can see that things are really moving,” he said.
The project is among a growing number of infrastructure developments being undertaken by local contractors, reflecting government efforts to strengthen indigenous participation in the construction sector.
ZIMBUILD Chief Executive Officer, Dr Manzungu said the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) framework has created opportunities for local firms to play a leading role in delivering infrastructure projects aligned with Vision 2030.
“The National Development Strategy 1 implementation model, when it comes to infrastructure, spoke of the inclusion of local contractors in building the Zimbabwe that we want ahead of the 2030 economic development agenda of Zimbabwe as an upper-middle-income economy. To do that, there was a bold stance taken by the government to engage mostly indigenous contractors, and this is where we are today.”
He said the policy shift has enabled local contractors to undertake projects of increasing scale and complexity.
“Since 2021, when this policy was put in place, here we are. These are the kind of structures that we are now putting up,” said Dr Manzungu.
Government support measures, including improved access to financing and more efficient approval processes, have strengthened confidence in the sector, encouraging both local and foreign investment in infrastructure development.
The increased involvement of indigenous contractors is expected to enhance local capacity, create employment opportunities and contribute to the achievement of Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 development goals.
