Patrick Chitumba patrick.chitumba@chronicle.co.zw
MIDLANDS Province has intensified investment in energy, manufacturing and housing, with a 100-megawatt solar power plant, a US$6,6 million cement factory and a US$4,5 million housing scheme among projects expected to support industrial growth and improve workers’ access to accommodation.
The projects, which are at different stages of implementation, are expected to create jobs, increase domestic production and strengthen infrastructure development as Zimbabwe pursues its Vision 2030 ambition of attaining upper-middle-income economy status.
Special Advisor to the President on Monitoring Implementation of Government Programmes and Projects, Dr Joram Gumbo, toured the developments in Gweru and assessed their progress and potential contribution to the provincial and national economy.
At the Huoyuntoung Solar Power Plant in Gweru, 120 000 of the planned 160 000 solar panels had been installed, representing 75 percent of the installation target.
The project has created about 600 jobs, mainly benefiting young people and local workers during construction.
Huoyuntoung Investments representative Mr Kino Zhang said the company expected the plant to contribute 100MW to the national electricity grid once construction and associated infrastructure were complete.
“We started this plant last year. We have over 160 000 panels, and we expect to complete other components in the near future. We are expecting 100 megawatts,” he said.
Mr Zhang said land preparation had been completed, while the step-up station and substation were about 90 percent complete.
Commissioning is scheduled for June 2027.
The project is expected to add generation capacity to the national grid, although its contribution will depend on the completion of the associated infrastructure and successful connection to the transmission network.
Beyond energy generation, Midlands is also seeking to expand domestic manufacturing through the WIH Zim cement plant, which has received US$6,6 million in funding.
The wholly Chinese-owned investment is scheduled for completion in April 2027 and is expected to produce 800 000 tonnes of cement annually, with about 800 jobs anticipated.
Once operational, the plant is expected to supply cement to the construction, mining and logistics sectors, which depend on the building material for housing, road rehabilitation and other infrastructure projects.
Increased local production could strengthen domestic supply, although the plant’s eventual impact will depend on its operating capacity, market demand and distribution arrangements.
The province’s investment drive also includes the Senga Messengers’ Camp housing project in Gweru, where construction is under way on four four-storey residential blocks.
Located about five kilometres from Gweru’s Central Business District, the project is 40 percent complete and requires a further US$2,7 million to finish, bringing its projected total cost to US$4.5 million.
The four blocks are expected to accommodate between 64 and 80 households, with the current construction phase focusing on 64 units.
Once completed, the flats are expected to provide affordable rental accommodation for civil servants. Revenue from the rentals is intended to support maintenance and future housing projects.
Dr Gumbo said the three projects illustrated how investment in energy, manufacturing and housing could contribute to economic development.
“There are different projects taking place in Midlands Province. We started our tour in Gweru, where we saw about three projects. The energy will go into the national grid. We saw the cement plant, and we can see that, upon completion, it will be critical to production. Then we saw the Senga housing project. These flats will ensure affordable housing for workers,” he said.
Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Permanent Secretary Dr Edgar Seenza said the province was seeking to increase its contribution to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP), currently estimated at 11,5 percent.
“At the moment, the contribution of Midlands Province to the national GDP is around 11,5 percent.
We hope that, with all the projects planned, we will contribute more to the national GDP,” he said.
Dr Seenza said 28 electricity generation projects were at various stages of development in the province and could collectively deliver about 1 700MW once completed.
He compared the projected capacity with a national electricity requirement of about 1 800MW, saying additional generation could help meet demand and support industrial expansion.
“In Midlands Province, we have 28 power plants that are at various stages of completion. Once completed, we should be able to generate about 1 700 megawatts against the national requirement of about 1 800 megawatts,” he said.
Dr Seenza said upgrading transmission infrastructure would be necessary to move surplus electricity to other provinces.
“What we now expect to do is upgrade the grid lines so that the electricity we generate as a province can be exported to other provinces that are in need,” he said.
Dr Seenza said the province was not experiencing load-shedding, adding that the Huoyuntoung plant was among the major investments expected to increase generation capacity.
He also cited the China Zim project in Shurugwi, which he said planned to generate 85MW.
Dr Seenza said the projects reflected the province’s efforts to attract investment by leveraging its economic advantages and were receiving attention from the highest levels of Government.
“We are quite upbeat about the investments taking place in Midlands Province, taking advantage of our comparative advantages,” he said.
Source: Midlands projects target power generation, industrial growth – herald
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