Engineering key to Zim’s upper middle-income ambition: Govt

LIVINGSTONE MARUFU

Government has identified engineering as a critical enabler in Zimbabwe’s quest to attain upper middle-income status by 2030, saying the profession is central to infrastructure development, technological advancement, innovation and economic transformation.

Engineering remains the backbone of national development, driving the construction of critical infrastructure, accelerating industrialisation and improving living standards, Business Times can report.

Speaking at the 2026 Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers (ZIE) Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony, National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Professor Paul Mavima said engineering innovation was key to developing cost-effective and sustainable production systems that enhance productivity and global competitiveness.

“Zimbabwe’s national aspirations under Vision 2030 require world-class infrastructure, efficient transportation systems, modern housing, reliable energy, climate-resilient agriculture, smart cities, digital connectivity, sustainable water systems and globally competitive industries. None of these ambitions can be realised without engineers putting their hands on the deck,” Professor Mavima said.

“Engineers are not merely builders of bridges, roads and buildings. They are builders of economies, creators of opportunities and architects of national prosperity. History teaches us that no nation has ever attained sustainable prosperity without placing engineers at the centre of its development agenda.”

He said global economic success stories such as Singapore, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates and China were built on engineering excellence, technological innovation and disciplined execution.

Professor Mavima said the theme captured the defining challenge and opportunity of the current generation — combining engineering expertise with emerging technologies to accelerate Zimbabwe’s transformation into an upper middle-income economy.

He said Zimbabwe’s development agenda required collective participation from Government, industry, academia, the private sector, the diaspora and civil society.

“Today, engineers are among the foremost builders answering that national call. The Second Republic has deliberately created an environment that encourages infrastructure development, private sector participation, innovation, investment and public-private partnerships,” he said.

“These reforms have significantly expanded opportunities for Zimbabwean engineers to contribute their expertise in national projects, industrial growth and technological advancement.”

Zimbabwe’s economy has shown resilience, recording growth of about 8.3%, among the highest in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Professor Mavima said the focus now was not only on achieving economic growth but ensuring that growth was sustainable, inclusive and globally competitive.

“The challenge before us is not merely to achieve growth; it is to sustain and accelerate it. To do so, we must build an economy that is productive, resilient and globally competitive,” he said.

He said climate change remained one of the greatest threats to sustainable development, but engineering interventions were helping the country adapt.

“There was a time when it was often said that when agriculture sneezed, the Zimbabwean economy caught pneumonia. However, deliberate interventions have fundamentally altered that narrative, with engineers constructing dams, establishing irrigation facilities and improving power supply to enhance resilience against climate shocks,” Professor Mavima said.

ZIE president Professor Engineer William Goriwondo said engineering remained a profession that designs, builds, powers, connects and sustains the modern world.

He said the profession was central to solving societal challenges, creating value, improving communities and building a sustainable future.

“Engineering continues to transform lives, drive economic growth and create opportunities for future generations. Engineering remains one of the cornerstones of national development,” Professor Goriwondo said.

“Every road we travel on, every bridge we cross, every factory that produces goods, every water treatment plant that provides clean water, every power station that supplies electricity, and every communication network that keeps us connected is a product of engineering expertise.”

He urged engineers to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, competence, ethics, safety, quality and accountability, saying decisions made today would shape the quality of life for generations to come.