Jennifer Dube
5 September 2009
A consortium of local engineers, the Zimbabwe Africa Development Group (ZAIDG) has partnered with South Africa's engineering giant, Hatch to improve its operations.
The two engineering concerns on Thursday held a pre-launch meeting to seal their partnership deal in Harare.
ZAIDG managing consultant Martin Manuhwa said teaming up with Hatch would address some of the problems of "an extractive" relationship which existed in the past.
"Teaming up with international consortiums like Hatch will give us a win-win scenario compared to past relations whereby people would come into the country and do projects only to vanish with all the money," Manuhwa said.
"We as Zimbabweans want to make sure that we have a stake and say in all the technology that comes into the country."
Formed 55 years ago, Hatch has projects in more than 150 countries including Botswana, Canada, China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Moscow and Zambia among others.
It has a membership of 9 000 professionals worldwide and currently manages more than US$50 billion worth of projects covering infrastructure, energy and metals.
Manhuwa said the partnership will assist in ZAIDG's growth both within and outside the region.
He said while local engineers will take up local projects, Hatch will come in with superior technological transfer and also assist in the design of large projects.
"We have already started engaging government, the private sector and developers to tell them that we now have the capability to do such big power projects as Batoka and also many other civil, structural and mechanical projects", he said. "The City of Harare and the University of Zimbabwe for example can now come to us for their water projects because Hatch is among the best developers of water infrastructure."
He said ZAIDG will also do digital designs with some of its members who left for the Diaspora in search of greener pastures.
Some of ZAIDG's members were involved in the construction of the ZABG building, Tynwald Primary School and also some sewerage treatment works in Harare.
Hatch managing director Allan Gray said both partners stood to benefit from the opportunities the relationship will create.
"We are very excited about the opportunities the relationship creates for both organisations not only in Zimbabwe and South Africa but also in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond", he said.
"This is a professional teaming arrangement emanating from the realisation that the landscape of engineering has changed worldwide.
"People are now working in teams to strike a win-win scenario for all partners."
Economic Planning and Investment Promotion minister, Elton Mangoma who was guest of honour at the event, welcomed the partnership and encouraged Zimbabweans from across sectors to take similar initiatives as waiting for the government to take pro-active steps in the country's development may delay the rebuilding process.
"It is impossible to wait for government funding. If you wait for government funding this country will not develop in the next 100 years and I can bet on that", he said.
"Government patronage with the little money from the taxpayer will not make this country grow.
'Let those who feel there are opportunities to make money come in and leave the infrastructure with us when they go."
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