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                                                                                                  October 2012



                                  PPIAF Assistance in Zimbabwe

Technical Assistance for Zimbabwe’s PPP Enabling Environment

In 2011 PPIAF provided technical assistance for a public-private partnership (PPP) assessment to
provide guidance for the Government of Zimbabwe on the development and implementation of its PPP
program, covering the transport, electricity, telecommunications, and water sectors.

The Government of Zimbabwe wishes to use PPPs as vehicles to meet its need to address its
infrastructure constraints in a fiscally responsible manner. Although there is no central registry of potential
PPP projects, there appears to be at least three main transactions under consideration and a list of other
potential ones. However, significant challenges remain before the establishment of successful PPPs can
deliver positive results for the Government and the people of Zimbabwe. Firstly, the PPP policy
environment in Zimbabwe is still at its infancy, the Policy Framework is still in draft form, and the legal
framework and the regulatory regime have not been fully developed. Lastly, the experience with PPP
transactions and the capacity to manage PPPs is very limited.

It is against this background that PPIAF provided support to: assess the current status and performance
of the selected infrastructure sectors; assess the policy and institutional environment for involving the
private sector in these sectors, and assist policy makers in framing the required strategies to increase
private sector participation in these sectors.

The support included consultations with relevant government agencies on their PPP project pipelines and
assisting them where necessary to assess, identify, and prioritize a pipeline of prospective PPP projects,
including the steps for their development and implementation. Three projects in particular were identified:
i) Chirundu–Harare–Masvingo–Beitbridge Corridor; ii) bulk water supply to Harare from Kunzwi Dam; and
iii) Lupane Coal Bed Methane Gas Project. The PPIAF-funded support also identified institutional and
legal barriers that are preventing the PPP program in Zimbabwe from moving forward, and that could be
addressed within the next 12 to 24 months.

  Results of PPIAF’s Activities in Zimbabwe in Support of Private Participation in Infrastructure

Category                             Outputs
Enabling environment reform

Plans/strategies prepared                Zimbabwe Rapid Needs Assessment, 2012



Looking Ahead: PPIAF and the PPP Agenda in Zimbabwe

PPIAF’s technical assistance identified action areas to support the implementation of pilot projects and
the removal of policy, institutional, and legal barriers. PPIAF is following up on potential support to carry
forward the recommendations of the study.




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