Indaba explores ways to drive infrastructure in Zim

The Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers (ZIE) will host an infrastructure investment conference in Victoria Falls from November 19 to 24, 2024 to discuss sustainable ways to drive infrastructure development in the country.

Scheduled for Elephant Hills Resort, the conference will be held under the theme “Redefining Sustainable Infrastructure Investment”, and is meant to facilitate a dialogue on various important issues pertaining to the development of key infrastructure in Zimbabwe and dealing with the existing impediments.

“Resultantly, for policymakers and built environment practitioners, one cannot escape from the challenges of planning, funding, developing, and implementing infrastructure projects.

“The challenges should be met with equal or more robust solutions, hence the main purpose of this conference,” said ZIE in a concept document for the forthcoming conference.

According to ZIE, the conference will focus on several relevant sub-themes encompassing enhancement of skills among built environment professionals, infrastructure investment and development and the importance of continued engineering education.

The exploration of engineering solutions for promoting inclusive development, analysis of various infrastructure financing models, and the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies into infrastructure systems will also come under discussion.

Dr Sanzan Diarra, the chief executive officer of ZIE, said in an interview with this publication that Zimbabwe had a long way to go in addressing the infrastructure deficit in the country.

“We are talking here about the infrastructure of Zimbabwe, as you know, we lack infrastructure in many aspects when you take (into account) your drinking water, your sanitation, your roads, your transport systems, your power, your hospitals, your schools and other social amenities.

“You find that we are not at the same level as most of our neighbouring countries, let alone developed countries. Yet when you look at Zimbabwe, we do have resources to get better infrastructure in this country.

“We do the manpower, educated engineers, technologies and technicians and artisans, we do have them; we do have natural resources.

“If we use a good combination of these tools, I am sure we can bring about a radical change in the way our infrastructure looks today.

“The load-shedding that we are suffering now across the board, should not be the case.

“We have so many possibilities to build our own power stations. It does not have to be only Kariba and Hwange (power stations).

“We could have built more; the plans are there. As the population grows, the plans are there to develop the infrastructure commensurately,” Dr Diarra said.

He said while the Government was doing its bit on key infrastructure development, there was a need to find ways to bring the private sector to actively participate, which was the focus of the conference in Victoria Falls.

Dr Diarra said the upcoming conference was primarily designed for local participants, with fewer international attendees expected. ZIE has invited key stakeholders in infrastructure development, including the Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, responsible for flagship programmes and projects, Engineer Amos Marawa, representatives from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development and the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, which will be represented by its permanent secretary, Dr Gloria Magombo.

Representatives from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) and various academic experts will be part of the gathering to ensure a comprehensive gathering of individuals involved in various aspects of infrastructure development.

“All the representatives are present, and we have intentionally made this a national meeting so that we can openly discuss our challenges and concerns among ourselves,” said Dr Diarra.

In its concept note, ZIE said infrastructure was one of the crucial enablers of socio-economic prosperity and its development, maintenance, and sustainability were essential for enhancing connectivity and improving the quality of life for people.

“Infrastructure is the platform on which any economy depends.

“Infrastructure thus becomes the vehicle by which society provides public goods and services to its communities, whether it be health care, education, safe water or sanitation, energy, transport, communication,” according to ZIE.

ZIE emphasised the importance of collaboration among engineering and built environment professionals in the face of rapid global changes and technological advancements.

Working together to develop sustainable investment models for infrastructure development in Zimbabwe, ZIE said, was a prudent approach.

According to Dr Diarra, despite the challenges, Zimbabwe possessed the necessary resources to improve its infrastructure, including a workforce of educated engineers, technologists, technicians, and artisans.

“Zimbabwe has abundant natural resources, and by effectively combining these with its skilled workforce, significant improvements in the country’s infrastructure can be achieved,” he said. ZIE is confident that collaboration among multidisciplinary teams in infrastructure development will play a key role in creating sustainable solutions.

Further, the adoption of advanced technologies and the effective use of the Internet of Things (IoT) are anticipated to offer innovative and sustainable approaches to the challenges faced in infrastructure. According to ZIE, infrastructure is key to socio-economic development and hence should be intentionally conceived, developed and maintained.

“Globalisation demands that we uphold international best practices in the region and beyond,” ZIE said.

-herald