In January 2010, the African Development Bank (AfDB) accepted the Government of Zimbabwe's request that it deepen and broaden its analytical knowledge base in Zimbabwe. That knowledge base had been depleted during the decade-long economic and political crisis in the country.

The report, "Infrastructure and Growth in Zimbabwe: An Action Plan for Strengthened Recovery," was released today, 7 March 2011, at an international investors' conference in Harare. It is part of the analytical work aimed at helping to strengthen the AfDB's leadership in Zimbabwe's infrastructure sector.

The report focuses on the services associated with transport, electric power, information and communication technologies (ICT), and water and sanitation in Zimbabwe. It provides a detailed assessment of the current status of the infrastructure and services in these areas and their role in regional integration within the Southern Africa region. It also sets achievable objectives for Zimbabwe's infrastructure by 2020, and lays out an action program for achieving these objectives, which includes policy and institutional reform, capital expenditure programs for rehabilitation and new capacity, and increased resource allocation for maintenance of these facilities.

The report provides options for financing the proposed program, identifies the specific areas where there is a role for private investment, and discusses improvements in the operating environment that will be required to attract this investment.

Contacts

Magatte Wade