Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
THE Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities is pushing for speedy enactment of the Construction Contractors Council Bill to regulate the construction industry.
The process of crafting the Bill started in 2000 and for two decades the process has been slow even though the construction industry had sent input.
The Second Republic has heightened the process and National Housing Minister Daniel Garwe said the draft Bill was now ready to be sent to Cabinet for approval.
Speaking at the Construction Industry Federation of Zimbabwe (CIFOZ) annual conference here on Thursday, Minister Garwe challenged the construction industry to contribute towards national development by partnering Government or venturing into public-private-partnerships (PPPs).
The conference was held under the theme “Infrastructure development by Zimbabweans, the torchbearers to Vison 2030”.
“The Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities is proposing the enactment of the Construction Contractors Council Bill. The proposed Bill shall establish a Construction Industry Authority which shall regulate the construction industry by ensuring registration and monitoring of the construction companies carrying out construction work in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“I am made to understand that the proposed Bill is now ready to be sent to Cabinet for approval after the comments from the Attorney General’s Office. From there, it will then be tabled in Parliament for ensuing processes and later Presidential ascent to make it a new law.”
Minister Garwe said Government had pledged to improve the construction industry value chain by leveraging on a win-win situation with the suppliers in the built environment.
Government will explore ways to reduce the cost of doing business for the industry by adoption of National Project Status with its attendant benefits for certain construction projects.
Construction professionals are therefore urged to continue improving their capacity to take on projects by forming joint ventures and consortiums.
“The doors are wide open for the private sector to participate in the whole housing infrastructure value chain through planning, designing, funding and implementing infrastructure development projects in conjunction with the Government of Zimbabwe without overlooking the obtaining regulatory framework.
“In the event that you identify gaps that have the potential to stifle such collaboration, there are always channels to bring those to the attention of the Government of Zimbabwe, especially at this time when we are realigning certain statutes and legislations to the dictates of the new Constitution,” said Minister Garwe.
He said Government is cognisant of the dynamic world hence the need to keep abreast with the modern day trends by coming up with policies that promote investment.
Minister Garwe said there are opportunities in the built environment and urged the construction industry not to wait for Government to float tenders.
“Let’s be innovative, let’s form joint ventures. Government has a number of priority areas which present opportunities worthy your esteemed consideration. We are expected to deliver 220 000 housing units by 2025 as a sector from the National Development Strategy 1 (2021-2025).
“It is imperative to highlight that these figures are not solely delivered by Government or local authorities, but include every stakeholder in the built environment, including the contribution by individual beneficiaries using their own means of funding,” he said.
A number of projects are underway countrywide, including the construction of new smart cities around major towns.
Minister Garwe challenged contractors to recreate and become businesspeople and key stakeholders in the built environment. — @ncubeleon
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter