Property Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) is this year expected to undertake multi-million dollar construction projects that will help stimulate the construction industry.
Among the projects in the offing is the construction of a ZIMRA head office in Norton, a few kilometres outside the capital, Harare.
ZIMRA is currently headquartered at ZB Centre in Harare.
The planned relocation of the headquarters to the satellite town of Norton would bring convenience to ZIMRA's customers. Harare's central business district (CBD) has become congested due to the upsurge in traffic which has made it a toll order for customers to find parking space.
Several companies, frustrated by the hustle and bustle in the CBD, are moving out of Harare's congested CBD.
The construction of ZIMRA's HQ along with other projects that are in the pipeline was revealed by Finance Minister, Tendai Biti in an interview with The Property Gazette.
Concerned about the congestion at Beitbridge Border Post, Biti said government was also working on Public-Private Sector Partnerships to fund the expansion of the country's largest port of entry.
"We want to see the construction of a new ZIMRA head office and the establishment of a tax company operated by ZIMRA. They (ZIMRA) have identified the land close to Norton and we are negotiating with the National Parks so that we are a given a 99-year lease," said Biti.
"One of our biggest projects is to make sure that the construction of a new border post in Beitbridge commences in 2012, expanding the facilities, modernising the border post. It is one of our core agendas in 2012. Why should everyone queue there? Someone somewhere is not thinking. There is absolutely no reason why commercial traffic, for instance, has to be cleared in Beitbridge."
Biti, during his budget presentation, said the construction industry was this year expected to register a marginal 1,5 percent growth on the back of improved mortgage financing.
The industry had suffered stagnation due to underfunding.
"However, compared to previous years, there is a gradual shift in the proportion of lending towards services, construction, communication and individuals, while the share of lending to agriculture, mining and manufacturing remained relatively stagnant," said Biti.
Apart from limited capital, the sector suffered from a massive skills flight as various craftsmen emigrated to regional neighbours in search for better employment prospects. This, according to Biti, has contributed to the recovery of the construction sector.
"Challenges related to intermittent supply side bottlenecks of such critical inputs as cement and bricks, coupled with under-capitalisation of the major construction companies and liquidity constraints, all serve to limit the sector's capacity to seize on emerging green shoots of economic recovery," Biti said.
"Further, undermining the rapid recovery of construction activity remains shortage of the requisite human resources, following skills flight; however, with gradual improvement in investment in the production of the key building materials such as cement and bricks, activity in the sector is set to improve."
Show/Hide commentswritten by mb, February 10, 2012
Promoting business to leave the CBD is not a good move and will lead to problems in the future of the city possibly having to revive a dead CBD.
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written by Cha*s D12, February 02, 2012
This is an industry which like retail needs to be regulated , there is nothing much that is required in terms of set up costs (debatable) and as such should be a reserve for the locals . This curbs the importation of the Chinese , the repatriation of currency to China and ultimately saves jobs and revenue for the locals.
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Makambonzwa dambudziko rekudonha kwakaita Joburg CBD, Ndiwo matangiro acho aya, chasara madrug lords anenge akuoperator from these buildings in Harare.
Zvino hurumenda kayotiza Capital yayo, zvinorevei? Va Biti Mukaregerera izvizvichiitika hameno zvenyu. Tengai ma property are kunana 4th and 8th Street Moita mamwe ma parkade.
Uye kuita madedicated tracks for buses, like BRT yeku South Africa, modhurisa parking yacho especially for short periods.