The resuscitation, formation and expansion of these and other companies has greatly assisted us in preserving employment, creating new jobs, saving foreign currency and exchange, enhancing fiscal space and in increasing production.
With regards to the State highways and other tarred roads, I note with satisfaction that the Harare International Airport Road dualisation project and the Plumtree-Bulawayo-Harare-Mutare Highway upgrade and rehabilitation were successfully completed. In addition, several other roads have been widened. Government has found a financier and contractor for the Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu Road which will be constructed at an estimated cost of US$2 billion. On the other hand, it is pleasing to note that Air Zimbabwe and the National Railways of Zimbabwe are now steadily on the way to resuscitation.
Fellow Zimbabweans, the power situation in the country has improved significantly this year. Government has managed to drastically reduce load-shedding by increasing the output at Hwange Power Station and by importing additional power from regional power utilities in the Southern African Power Pool.
In the medium term, we expect to benefit from the Kariba Power Station expansion, presently at 41 percent completion stage, and Hwange Power Station, for which we have signed a loan with China Exim Bank. We also have active plans to repower Harare, Munyati and Bulawayo power stations.
In line with the promotion of renewable energies, Government has embarked on a massive solar water heating programme. We are encouraging all new houses to have solar water heaters instead of electric geysers. Existing homes are also encouraged to replace the electric geysers with solar water heaters. This programme, launched in September 2015, will have first installations done this year. It should be noted that all the solar geysers for the programme are to be manufactured locally.
Let me acknowledge that the African Development Bank has given us much needed financial support. Recently they availed a grant in support of our beef and leather value chain project that will surely drive growth in the Matabeleland North and South provinces by ensuring competitiveness of both local and export markets.
Government is also working to buttress the competitive agenda through the “Doing Business Reforms Programme” which seeks to improve the “Doing Business in Zimbabwe”, hence the current review of procedure manuals and some legislation, which have been hindering a speedy registration of enterprises.
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