100-day cycle projects transform lives

Rumbidzayi Zinyuke, Harare Bureau

PROJECTS being implemented by Government under the 100-day cycle programme have made a positive impact on the lives of people and put the country on course to achieving the targets set under Vision 2030 of an empowered upper-middle income society.

The 100-day cycles are the building blocks to the realisation of goals for transforming Zimbabwe into an upper middle income economy and involves the segmentation of big projects into smaller and manageable developments done and completed in 100 days.

Implementation of the projects is centred on key elements that capture Government’s vision for economic growth and development, re-engagement with the global community, promotion of investment and trade, nurturing a responsive and high performance culture in the public service and engendering greater impetus in the provision of strategic infrastructure.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere said yesterday after the Cabinet meeting that a report presented to Cabinet by Minister of State for Presidential Affairs in the Office of the President and Cabinet Lovemore Matuke showed that last year, 493 of these 100-day cycle priority projects were implemented.

“The majority of the projects, 348 in total, surpassed set targets, while 61 performed within the agreed range,” said Dr Muswere. 

“Among the key achievements which cut across the 14 National Development Strategy 1 thematic areas are the construction of a baobab juice plant at Mutare Teachers’ College in Manicaland, the establishment of a bio-diesel production plant in Mutoko, Mashonaland East, and the upgrading of 30 schools through construction of new classroom blocks and ablution facilities, drilling of boreholes and their solarisation, the installation of radiological and radiotherapy equipment at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and at all provincial and central hospitals, as well as the construction of primary healthcare clinics at Cowdray Park in Bulawayo Metropolitan and Mataga in the Midlands.” 

Also implemented as 100-day cycle projects were the establishment of 12 boarding schools and registration of 40 satellite schools, the decentralisation of e-passport services to Manicaland, Masvingo and Mashonaland Central, the construction of magistrates courts in Epworth, Lupane, Mutawatawa, Gwanda and Chiredzi and the establishment of ICT laboratories at schools in Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Midlands, Masvingo, Manicaland and Matabeleland North.

Of note, the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport was refurbished during the period while the Hwange 7 and 8 expansion was completed and commissioned resulting in improved power supply. 

A total of 70,45km of the Harare-Beitbridge Road was rehabilitated and so far, 470,45km of this road have been completed and opened to traffic.

Other projects carried out include the construction of a migrant resource centre in Bulawayo, the modernisation of National FM, Power FM and Classic 263 radio stations, the rehabilitation of the Binga-Siakobvu Road, the completion and commissioning of Chivhu Dam, the rehabilitation of 182 dip tanks across all rural provinces, the shaft expansion at Pickstone Peerless Mine and the construction of the Sinomine Bikita Minerals Processing Plant. 

According to the NDS1 blueprint, the deterioration in the country’s basic infrastructure has had serious impact on productive sectors of the economy and on the level and quality of services to the public at large.

Therefore, the implementation of projects under the 100-day cycles has over the years contributed to improved performance that guarantees efficient infrastructure delivery, which is key in the realisation of national priorities and overall socio-economic development.