The Sunday Mail
Tendai Chara
BUILDING contractors say the death of Joel Biggie Matiza, the former Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development who was declared a national hero and was buried at the National Heroes Acre on Wednesday, created a void that will be difficult to fill.
The Zimbabwe Building Contractors Association, (ZBCA), which represents the interests of 3 000 building contractors, described the national hero as a “true champion of indigenisation”.
“He believed in indigenous contractors whom he awarded infrastructural projects. He also encouraged the use of local resources, thereby building local capacity, creating jobs for the youth and also opening up business opportunities for local entrepreneurs,” Mr Petros Kagwere, the ZBCA senior vice-president said.
According to Mr Kagwere, Fossil Contracting, Exodus and Company and Tensor Systems, all indigenous construction companies that are ZBCA members, were awarded tenders in the rehabilitation, upgrading and widening of the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway.
Five local companies were engaged in this project in line with the drive for local empowerment and the achievement of Vision 2030.
According to the ZBCA, the national hero, who was an architect by profession, was also a champion of devolution.
“He advocated for devolution by making sure that roads, be they tarred or gravel, were rehabilitated across all provinces. To us as ZBCA, he was not only a Minister but an active player in the construction sector,” Dr Christopher Mawere, the ZBCA president said.
Mr Mawere said the late Minister did not tolerate corruption and would not entertain under-performing companies.
Added Dr Mawere: “Local companies, who were given the opportunity by the late Minister to prove themselves, did not disappoint but proved that local companies are capable of handling major contracts. Local construction companies are competitive and should be considered when construction tenders for big projects arise.”
