Government grapples to meet SADC Summit projects d...

Government grapples to meet SADC Summit projects deadline

Oscar J Jeke

Zimbabwe is racing against time to meet the deadline for the SADC Summit projects and facility developments that are to be used throughout the Heads of State Indaba in August. Government has embarked on a rehabilitation and beautification trail, that has seen a number of road infrastructure within the Central Business District rehabilitated, widened and resurfaced, construction of villas in Mount Hampden to house VVIP delegates from across the SADC region, among other beautification works, being implemented during the time frame of the announcement of the host nation.

These works also complement Zimbabwe’s willingness and readiness to take over the region’s chairmanship.

During the planning phase for the projects and priority rehabilitation plot, government came up with an inter-ministerial committee that oversees the day-to-day operations and progress made by ministries in their preparation of projects and rehabilitation works falling under their respective ministries, headed by Vice President, Constantino Chiwenga that came up with July 31 as the deadline for completion of all projects as the summit draws near.

A SADC Secretariat team is set to visit Zimbabwe to assess the country’s preparedness on July 17, where the country remains optimistic of a good evaluation grade.

In terms of road infrastructure, over 50 sections of roads were earmarked for reconstruction and widening into those leading to the summit venue and surrounding sections, have, however, seen almost half completed, with the days speeding towards the events, government remains in the race against time to complete all.

Although internal representatives are positive of the works, giving assurances that they are set for completion in a fortnight, time seems to be running out.

Giving an update on the progress and readiness of the infrastructure for the regional Indaba in an interview with a state publication last week, Engineer Amos Marawa, Deputy chief secretary and national coordinator for flagship programs and projects in the Office of the President and Cabinet, expressed confidence in the progress made and the higher chances of government meeting the deadline for completion of projects. He gave an update of the road infrastructure progress made so far, together with complexities surrounding the delays experienced over the entire process.

“We are confident that the technical assessment team from SADC, which is visiting around July 17, will give us a thump up. They are coming to confirm that everything that we have given them as a plan is in place,” he said.

He further asserted that road reconstruction and surfacing were subdivided into three categories, with those earmarked for surfacing having already been completed.

“Most of the sections of the road that we are redeveloping have been completed in terms of surfacing. We still have very short sections where we are still doing some work, but again they are substantially complete, because we are at the last base level, which we call G1. So, most of the roads, we are now at G1 stage, and we think within the next one-and -a half weeks, we should have completed most of the work on the trafficable surface itself,” he added.

The engineer however clarified that the second phase of road infrastructure development is ongoing, with some of the roads halfway through, which has been allocated 15 roads, while the third and final category that has 22 roads is still in the procurement of material stage.

“Currently, we have 15 roads that are ongoing, 11 are almost substantially complete. Four roads are almost halfway. The third lot is still under procurement, and we are at the very last stages”.

This has raised concerns within and among the public as to whether government can meet the July 31 deadline, or projects will extend through to the summit days. Other concerns raised are of the quality assured especially looking at the time frame left for the completion of the road works, which seems too little to produce a good standard road, especially looking at some of the roads that have already been surfaced where government itself through Infrastructure minister, Felix Mhona expressed dissatisfaction over shoddy jobs by some contractors.

Another project set out for revamp and rehabilitation was the Robert Mugabe International airport. Construction of the new pavilion has been reported to nearing completion, with internal finishes and setting up of furniture and necessary ICT facilities in motion. Another worry presented by government as to the delay in completing such an integral part of infrastructure which will the first point of reference for the guests if deadline is not met.

One major concern in terms of vital infrastructure for the regional Indaba is the accommodation for the guest, which has recorded a low pace in construction and renovations, which has only seen 12 single-story villas out of the targeted 18, set for completion by the end of July, while the remaining six double-story villas are earmarked to be complete before the summit kicks off, an unrealistic target it seems, seeing that the other 12 took so much time to complete, how long will it take government to complete double-story buildings half the number of the ones they have struggled to complete. These may even exceed into the summit days.

Engineer Marawa did allude to the fact that materials for the construction of the villas, together with the Conference Centre at Mount Hampden were shipped from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, hence facing delays in shipment arrival and transportation from the arrival port in Mozambique.

“As you may recall, all materials that we are talking about for the villas came by ship from the UAE. Last night (Thursday), we received a fleet of 22 trucks transporting some of the external and internal walls. The remainder, which is 46 trucks, are expected in the next two days,” he said.

His overall assessment of the progress and preparations, seems off whereas he commented that the country is 99 percent ready for the summit, it has however been proven otherwise by the actual work left to be done for the Indaba.

An unfulfilled dream seems to dwindle in front of government’s eyes with work done still falling far short of expectations at this set time and date.

More could have been done and focus should have been placed in ensuring smooth flow of work towards infrastructure development rather than having a cat and mouse chase with vendors and touts, when there is a much bigger problem to focus on.

Another problem that has been pointed out by the public is the reconstruction of roads that are only to be used by delegates, while the whole transport system in the country needs attention, with government itself through various platforms conforming to the need for a continual cycle to improve the transport system in the country that has seen dilapidating suburb connecting roads and some within the heart of Harare.