Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe, Zimpapers Business Hub
THE Government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that communities along the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Road benefit directly from the ongoing rehabilitation project by creating employment opportunities and providing supporting services such as catering and accommodation.
Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister, Felix Mhona, said the Second Republic’s infrastructure development programme was anchored on inclusive growth, deliberately placing local communities at the centre of implementation.
“This project is a key milestone in our national infrastructure development agenda as this route lies at the intersection of several strategic development pillars, notably tourism, trade, mining and energy,” said Minister Mhona while addressing Parliament on Wednesday.
“Beyond the economic significance of the project at the national level, we remain deeply committed to ensuring that communities located along the highway benefit meaningfully from this development.”
He said it is Government policy that all contractors undertaking public infrastructure projects must hire all general labour from surrounding areas, a directive backed by rigorous monitoring systems.
“It is standard ministry policy consistently communicated to all our contractors across the country that 100 percent of general labour, non-skilled workers, must be recruited from local communities within their zones of operation,” said the minister.
“This is a must because it is Government policy. The requirement is enforced through robust stakeholder engagement processes, which are carried out throughout the duration of the project.”
In line with broader gender inclusion targets, contractors are also being encouraged to reserve a significant portion of job opportunities for women.
“We strongly encourage our contractors to ensure that a reasonable proportion of these employment opportunities are allocated to women in line with our broader gender inclusion objectives,” Minister Mhona added.
The Government’s local empowerment thrust goes beyond direct employment to include procurement of support services from surrounding areas thereby spreading the economic benefits more widely.
“In addition to direct employment, indirect economic benefits are accruing to the surrounding communities.
Contractors are encouraged to source catering, accommodation and other support services locally, which further stimulates economic activity and income generation in these areas,” said Minister Mhona.
“We continue to monitor and enforce policies that promote local participation and employment during the rehabilitation of the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Road and indeed in all our national infrastructure projects.”
The rehabilitation of the strategic Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Road is being carried out in phases. The highway plays a key role in driving the country’s tourism sector and boosting regional trade, linking the country’s second-largest city to the premier resort destination of Victoria Falls and connecting to regional transport corridors.
