Gibson Mhaka Zimpapers Politics Hub
ZIMBABWE is witnessing a far-reaching economic transformation, driven by strategic capital investments that are reshaping the national landscape under the framework of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and the implementation of NDS2.
Guided by the Second Republic’s foundational philosophy of Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo (a country is built by its own people), Government has prioritised infrastructure modernisation across key sectors, including heavy manufacturing, regional logistics, bulk water security and energy generation.
From the steel furnaces at Manhize in the Midlands Province to the power-generating units at Hwange, Matabeleland North Province, major highways and strategic dams, projects that were once long-term development ambitions are increasingly becoming tangible features of the country’s changing economic landscape.
The development drive is anchored in Vision 2030, the national aspiration of attaining upper middle income economy status. NDS1, which covered the period 2021 to 2025, prioritised infrastructure development, energy, water, transport and industrialisation as critical enablers of economic growth. NDS2, covering 2026 to 2030, builds on these foundations, with an emphasis on consolidating the gains and accelerating implementation towards the national vision.
At Manhize, the US$1,5 billion Dinson Iron and Steel plant represents one of the clearest expressions of Zimbabwe’s ambition to move away from exporting raw materials towards domestic processing, value addition and industrial manufacturing.
The plant is producing steel products for local and export markets. The significance of the investment extends far beyond the factory gates.
Increased domestic steel production has the potential to reduce imports, conserve foreign currency and stimulate demand across local supply chains, including transport, engineering, construction and metal fabrication.
In December 2025, Zanu-PF spokesperson Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa called for greater participation by Bulawayo industries in the Manhize project, describing the city as the “missing player” in the country’s industrial resurgence.
He said consultations had been held on a dedicated budget to upgrade factories to international standards, restore water reticulation and rehabilitate railway sidings and roads, enabling Bulawayo industries to participate more meaningfully in the emerging steel value chain.
Energy generation is another indispensable pillar of this industrialisation drive. The US$1,5 billion expansion of Hwange Thermal Power Station through Units 7 and 8 added 600 megawatts to the national grid, raising the station’s installed generation capacity to 1 520MW.
The 2025 Mid-Term Budget reported that each unit had achieved its full capacity of 335MW in March 2025.
The expansion has strengthened national electricity generation capacity, although sustained performance remains dependent on regular maintenance, adequate coal supplies and efficient transmission infrastructure.
The strategic importance of the investment was underscored by China’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Zhou Ding, who said the project, with its 600MW installed capacity, four transformer stations and 368km of transmission lines, would provide reliable electricity and “inject new vitality into the country’s socio-economic progress”.
The modernisation of the country’s transport infrastructure is equally central to this economic transformation, particularly given Zimbabwe’s strategic geographical position as a regional transit and logistics hub.
The 580km Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway, which forms the southern leg of the North-South Corridor, is nearing completion.
By July 2026, 550,1km had been rehabilitated and opened to traffic, leaving 31,9km outstanding.
The highway connects Zimbabwe to South Africa and wider Southern African Development Community (SADC) markets, facilitating the movement of people and cargo while reducing transport costs and improving regional trade competitiveness.
Complementing this investment is the modernised Beitbridge Border Post, delivered through a US$300 million public-private partnership between Government and the Zimborders Consortium.
The upgraded facility incorporates automated systems and separate passenger and commercial traffic terminals designed to improve border efficiency and reduce congestion.
Recent reports indicated that the facility was handling an average of 1 000 trucks daily, with 60 percent of commercial traffic being cleared in less than three hours.
On the northern leg of the corridor, the 356km Harare-Chirundu Highway and the modernisation of Chirundu Border Post are being advanced through a US$900 million public-private partnership, with an 18-month implementation period announced in August 2026.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona said: “I am happy that we now have a solution, as we have secured the funding for the entire road network; that is from Harare to Chirundu.”
The route provides an important connection to Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and other regional markets, strengthening Zimbabwe’s position along the northbound trade corridor.
Advocate Mhona further underscored the broader economic significance of the infrastructure programme, saying: “The modernisation of the Harare-Beitbridge-Chirundu corridor is a game-changer for regional transit logistics. Zimbabwe is geographically positioned as the transit hub of Southern Africa.
“By eliminating border bottlenecks and delivering world-class road infrastructure, we are significantly cutting haulage costs, enhancing road safety, and ensuring our country captures maximum revenue from SADC and COMESA trade flows.”
Water security is another critical component of the country’s development trajectory, particularly as climate change and increasingly unpredictable rainfall patterns threaten agricultural production and industrial operations.
In Matabeleland North, Lake Gwayi-Shangani, a flagship component of the National Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project, had reached 83 percent completion by November 7, 2026, with the Government targeting initial water impoundment during the current rainy season.
Agriculture Minister Dr Anxious Masuka said: “We are now 83 percent complete, 61 metres high, which means we are left with 2,5 metres of construction. We look forward to impounding water from mid-season onwards.”
Once fully developed, the dam is expected to supply Bulawayo, support irrigation through a planned 252-kilometre pipeline, promote fisheries and generate 10MW of hydroelectric power.
However, the pipeline, which is essential for delivering water to the city and surrounding communities, was reported to be only seven percent complete, highlighting the importance of synchronising the construction of the dam with its associated water conveyance infrastructure.
Kunzvi Dam, being constructed on the Nyaguwe River between Murehwa and Goromonzi districts in Mashonaland East, is another strategic investment aimed at strengthening water supplies to Harare while supporting agricultural production and industrial development.
In September 2026, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Professor Obert Jiri said the project was more than 75 percent complete, with the
Government targeting completion by year-end, subject to continued Treasury support.
Addressing the strategic importance of water infrastructure in climate-proofing the economy, Prof Jiri stated: “We can no longer rely purely on seasonal rain-fed agriculture. Projects like Lake Gwayi-Shangani and Kunzvi Dam are structural shields.
“They allow us to decouple national food security and industrial production from unpredictable weather patterns, guaranteeing that our irrigation schemes remain productive regardless of climatic shifts.”
The investments demonstrate that infrastructure development is not an end in itself, but a means of building an economy capable of withstanding external shocks, supporting domestic production and creating opportunities across different sectors.
Nevertheless, the projects are not without challenges. Financing constraints, contractor capacity, maintenance requirements, resettlement issues and delays in completing associated infrastructure can undermine their intended economic benefits.
The Government’s continued reliance on domestic resources and public-private partnerships, against the background of constrained access to external credit, makes efficient resource mobilisation and project management particularly important.
Ultimately, the measure of success must extend beyond money invested and construction milestones achieved.
It must be reflected in the volume of steel produced, megawatts consistently supplied, water delivered to households and industries, agricultural land under irrigation, cargo efficiently cleared and sustainable jobs created.
Zimbabwe’s development trajectory is taking shape, but the ultimate value of these investments will be determined by what they enable the economy to achieve.
Manhize should deepen domestic industrial value chains, Hwange must provide dependable electricity, the North-South Corridor should facilitate competitive regional trade, while Gwayi-Shangani and Kunzvi must translate water infrastructure into greater agricultural and industrial productivity.
That is how the infrastructure foundations laid under NDS1 and the implementation priorities of NDS2 can move beyond impressive construction milestones to become the productive backbone of Vision 2030.
Indeed, the Second Republic’s development philosophy, Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo, finds its practical expression in these investments: a nation building its own productive capacity, mobilising its resources and laying the foundations for sustainable prosperity.
