Online Reporter
Theseus Shambare
Herald Reporter
ZIMBABWE is positioning itself as a continental leader in water infrastructure investment, unveiling multi-billion-dollar projects at the just ended three-day AU-AIP Africa Water Investment Summit that promised to transform the nation’s economy, strengthen food security and deliver clean water to millions.
Anchored in President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), the country’s pitch in Cape Town focused on unlocking the full potential of its 10 600 dams, of which only 10 percent are currently utilised.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka, told global financiers that Zimbabwe’s projects are “bankable, shovel-ready and primed for public-private partnerships (PPPs) that deliver returns to investors and benefits to citizens.”
“Africa’s biggest gap is not a shortage of ideas, but the institutional capacity to turn them into investments,” Dr Masuka said.
“We are determined to change that. Our goal is to expand irrigation, guarantee water supply and create jobs – with private partners joining hands with the Government to realise our vision.”
Zimbabwe’s water investment pipeline – four transformative projects – targets agriculture, climate resilience, women’s empowerment and rural development.
Officials say the initiatives will create thousands of jobs, expand irrigation schemes to boost food self-sufficiency and supply clean water to communities long affected by droughts.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa urged investors to seize opportunities in countries like Zimbabwe.
“Water must be at the centre of climate and finance discussions. Let us leave Cape Town with deals, pipelines and partnerships,” he said.
King Mswati III of Eswatini described water as “the lifeblood of our continent” and praised Zimbabwe for advancing cross-border water security.
“Africa’s water is Africa’s future. By investing in water security, we are investing in the health, dignity and prosperity of our people,” he said, commending Zimbabwe for championing projects with regional impact.
Over three days, the summit – the first of its kind under Africa’s historic G20 Presidency – showcased 80 priority water investment projects from 38 African countries, attracting projected commitments worth US$10 billion annually.
Additional pledges are expected in the coming two weeks via an online investment portal.
African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment Moses Vilakati called the gathering “a platform for transformation” and announced that 2026 will be declared the African Union’s Year of Water.
“We leave with renewed momentum, concrete commitments and a bold vision for the future,” he said.
South Africa’s Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, hailed the summit as “a resounding success,” but emphasised that progress would depend on implementation.
“Governments must level the playing fields and remove red tape that discourages investment,” she said.
The Cape Town Declaration on Africa Water Investment, adopted at the summit, commits member states to scale up financing, reform multilateral institutions and prioritise underserved rural and peri-urban communities.
It also calls for mobilising concessional capital where private funding cannot flow alone.
Zimbabwe’s projects, which meet Global Outlook Council on Water Investments standards, are designed to boost agricultural productivity, safeguard public health and build resilience against climate change – all central pillars of NDS1.
As the continent prepares for the 2026 UN Water Conference, co-hosted by Senegal and the UAE, Minister Masuka said, Zimbabwe’s message from Cape Town was clear: the nation is ready, the projects are bankable and the time to invest is now.
“With the support of our partners, we can turn our water assets into engines of economic growth and social transformation,” Dr Masuka said.
