IDBZ partners Dutch firm

Published: 24 August 2017

THE Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) has partnered a Dutch firm called Rebel International Group, which specialises in infrastructure finance and investment, to construct new schools across the country.

Government, which had not invested much in the education sector's infrastructure in recent years, disclosed that it had established a deficit of about 2 056 schools in the education sector.

It, therefore, appointed the IDBZ to help mobilise funding for construction of schools across the country.

Thomas Sakala, the chief executive officer of IDBZ, said: "In carrying out our responsibilities (as project advisors), we do start off by assessing what we can do on our own and where we need additional assistance both within the country and of course outside."

"In this particular case, we did carry out an exercise, which has resulted in us identifying additional expertise in the form of a consortium which is led by Rebel International based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and they are working with one of the leading lawyers in Zimbabwe called Gill, Godlonton and Gerrans.

We are also in partnership with another local consulting firm called CNM Engineers.

"We are going to make sure that the project is properly implemented. We are very happy to report that the Minister (of Primary and Secondary Education) and his team have given us the necessary leeway to work with them timely. We are aware of the urgency and fully aware of the need to ensure that some of the challenges government has been experiencing in previous projects implementation, such as project costs doubling, will not arise in this critical project."

Andreas Bertoldi, a Rebels representative who was in the country last week, said: "This is a very exciting project. It's challenging but we are looking forward to working with our partners as well as the government of Zimbabwe. As we bring international experience, we are all conscious and aware that education is in many ways the lifeblood of economic development growth. We are very excited, very committed. You have the full assurance that we will do it diligently and with the integrity and add value to a process for the betterment of the entire society of Zimbabwe."

The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Lazarus Dokora, indicated that government would start with a pilot project involving 166 schools across the country.

"This is a very happy moment," said Dokora. "What we are talking about here is government schools. There are three aspects that I want to highlight. It will be the construction of brand new schools which is the complete solution. We also are looking at teachers' housing through to classroom and laboratories for both secondary and primary schools. We are trying to start with 166 schools to see how that will work."

- fingaz

Tags: IDBZ,