Construction industry emerges as backbone of economic recovery

LIVINGSTONE MARUFU IN BULAWAYO
Zimbabwe’s construction industry is emerging as a key engine of economic recovery, with rising public and private investment driving infrastructure development, industrial expansion and job creation.
Official figures show sustained growth in construction activity, reflecting increased capital flows into strategic projects and strengthening demand for building materials, transport, financial services and real estate.
Across the country, cranes, scaffolding and construction crews have become increasingly visible as commercial, industrial, residential and public infrastructure projects gather pace, underscoring the sector’s growing contribution to economic activity.
Speaking at the ongoing Construction Industry Federation of Zimbabwe (CIFOZ) congress in Bulawayo, CIFOZ president Elinah Shoko said construction had a multiplier effect across the wider economy, stimulating demand for locally produced steel, cement and glass while supporting transport, finance and property services.
“The construction sector remains the backbone of economic recovery and transformation, and the work we do here directly shapes the skyline and infrastructure of tomorrow,” Shoko said.
“The construction industry acts as a foundational engine for national economic development and structural transformation by building the physical assets required for modern societies to function.”
Shoko said the sector’s contribution extended beyond physical infrastructure, with construction investment creating economic linkages across multiple industries and supporting broader industrial development.
The renewed construction activity comes as Zimbabwe accelerates investment in infrastructure, housing and productive capacity, placing the sector at the centre of efforts to strengthen economic growth and improve the country’s infrastructure base.