Story by ZBC Reporter
OVER 160 development projects have been completed, with other projects now past the halfway stage in Bulawayo since the coming of the Second Republic, which has accelerated infrastructure development as a building block to economic growth.
At its inception, the Second Republic identified 230 projects in Bulawayo covering various sectors such as education, industry, health, and social welfare in line with the national vision of an upper middle-income society.
In the health sector, over six projects were implemented as the government targets universal health coverage.
These include the refurbishment of Thorngrove Hospital, Ekusileni, and Bartley Memorial Block at United Bulawayo Hospitals to meet World Health Organisation (WHO) standards and to decongest other hospitals in the city, renovation and modernisation of Mpilo Doctors Flats, the establishment of a radiotherapy Unit at Mpilo, Obstetric Fistula Clinic and Orthopaedic Hospital amongst other health projects.
While the spotlight has been on infrastructure development projects in the transport and health sectors, there has been a lot of work put to revive industries in the country’s second-largest city.
The Second Republic has supported the installation of a new processing plant at Zambezi Tannery, the enhancement of grain bag production at Treger Group, the revival of the production line at Cotton Pro Company, and the rehabilitation of the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) coaches, wagons, and locomotives.
Tertiary education students have not been left out in this development following the establishment of an innovation hub at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) and the completion of a complex to address the shortage of accommodation at tertiary institutions within the city.
Government is satisfied that its developmental drive has managed to create more jobs, boost economic growth, and improve living standards.
Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Honourable Judith Ncube said, “The numbers speak for themselves on the success of the development projects implemented by the Second Republic. Our hospitals have improved, school blocks have been constructed to curb the challenge of hot sitting, student housing has been a success at NUST, and industries have been awakened like the leather plant in Belmont and Bakers Inn confectionery expansion. All these developments are clear indications that Bulawayo is going back to its status of being an industrial hub.”
Under National Development Strategy One, the government has prioritised accelerated infrastructure development as a key pillar of national economic growth.
