The Zimbabwe Building Contractors Association (ZBCA) marked a significant step in the modernization of the nation’s infrastructure sector with the launch of the ZBCA Academy in Nyanga recently. The new institution is set to deliver targeted and accredited programs designed to equip builders, site staff, and emerging entrepreneurs with skills crucial for the industry’s future. The academy launch took place during the annual ZBCA conference, emphasizing the industry’s focus on professional development and capacity building.
The impetus behind the academy comes from a clear need for the construction sector to evolve rapidly or risk stagnation. This sentiment was strongly articulated by the association’s president, Dr. Tinashe Manzungu.
Dr. Manzungu, speaking at the launch, stressed that the survival of the construction sector is hinged on its ability to quickly adapt to the existing fluid operating environment. He emphasized that “Innovation is no longer optional but is the engine of resilience in an environment characterised by changing regulations, rising expectations, and digital disruption.” He added that Zimbabwe’s construction sector cannot risk being left behind and thus should evolve, asserting that the industry now demands digital highways that connect rural communities to global markets, building green structures that reduce the national carbon footprint, and engineering smart cities that redefine urban living.
The context for this call to action is Zimbabwe’s current infrastructure boom. The nation’s infrastructure narrative is being reshaped by massive projects, ranging from the iconic Tarablas Interchange to the expansive Mt Hampden Government Precinct. This period of growth has seen substantial financial commitments, with over US$3.1 billion invested in infrastructure projects spanning roads, housing, energy, airports, and social amenities between 2020 and the first quarter of 2024.
Supporting the industry’s educational push, a representative from the Ministry of Local Government highlighted the growing need for partnerships as devolution deepens. The Ministry has adopted a ‘10-10, 70-100 2030’ infrastructure acceleration principle, signalling key investment opportunities within the infrastructure portfolio. The government is actively converting urban state land into bankable equity, encouraging private players to bring in finance under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreements. Significant opportunities were noted in the development of the new city at Mt Hampden, the administrative capital covering 19,000 hectares, as well as in airport upgrading and the construction of stadiums and other vital infrastructure.
The new ZBCA Academy is poised to be the crucial training arm that supplies the specialized technical skills necessary to execute these ambitious national projects.
