Opinion

Yesterday, the business community and the country at large woke up to receive shocking news that the country is Hiring a team of 500 experts from Switzerland to build the 18 villas that will host Presidents on the upcoming 44th SADC Heads of State and Government Summit scheduled for August this year.

The development came as a surprise, as it left many people wondering if Government failed to get a local company to do the job. Zimbabwe in recent times has experienced a big boom in the construction industry. Various properties and structures are being built across the length and breadth of the country. All the works are being done by local companies.

The government has enjoyed some rapport with local contractors as it has hired them to construct major infrastructure like roads and dams. The locals companies have demonstrated their capabilities to deliver. It therefore comes as a shocker as to why Government decided to hire foreigners to do the job.

According to a local publication, the 500 experts are expected to work with 300 local artisans. We can see that the number of locals that will benefit from employment opportunities is already lower than that given to foreigners. Imagine, if all the work was awarded to a local contractor, the government would have created 700 employment opportunities for its people.

Hiring locals also ensures that our foreign currency stays and circulates within the country. Government will also have the flexibility to pay contractors in local currency. But that is not possible when working with foreigners who will demand payment in forex so that they can take it back to their countries.

By hiring foreign experts to conduct major projects in the country, the government has simply demonstrated that it does not have confidence in local companies, thereby denting its “Nyika Inovakwa Nevene Vayo” mantra.

Because it does not make sense to say the country will be built by its own people, yet you shun local people from big contracts.In future, government should be sincere on its objectives to avoid indicating right, but turning left.