The above are some of the many infrastructure projects launched by Government, which have capacity to enhance the economy’s productive capacity and hence generate growth, with employment creation. The Government has also implemented Kariba South Project and Hwange 7/8 energy projects that upon completion will cumulatively add 900MW to the supply of electricity in the country, reducing imports and saving foreign exchange.
The Tokwe – Mukosi dam will change the agriculture landscape in the southern part of Zimbabwe, with major implications for new agro-based projects – sugarcane, fisheries, tourism, among others, increasing production and productivity, employment and exports.
Investment in highways dualisation and upgrading is critical for restoring Zimbabwe’s critical role at the epicenter of the SADC infrastructure networks, linking South Africa and northern SADC states, Zambia, Tanzania and DRC.
The Government has also taken concrete steps to revive Ziscosteel. New investors have been identified and intervention modalities are being finalized. This will have downstream positive effects on the entire steelworks value chain and other industries.
1.2.3 Statutory Instrument S164
Government instituted SI 64 to regulate imports, particularly of non-essentials, and this has had the effect of increasing capacity utilization in some sectors of the economy, most notably edible the oils subsectors, leading to an overall increase in domestic capacity utilization from 34.3% to 47.2% last year. The SI contributed to the increase in capacity utilization in sub sectors such as Foodstuffs, Drinks, Tobacco and Beverages manufacturing; Wood and Furniture as well as Paper, Printing and Packaging – with some subsectors now operating at 70% capacity utilization levels.
- Reduction in imports value
- Investment in local manufacturing by entities that were previously exporting to Zimbabwe.
Continued next page
(1016 VIEWS)
