Econet to expand into road construction

Mobile communications behemoth, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe says it will soon diversify into road construction, in a bid to improve communication channels and support to the community, its chief executive officer, has said.

Douglas Mboweni said at the side lines of the launch of Econet Wireless's Energise the Chain project, at Nhowe Mission in Macheke on Friday, the decision follows a realisation that many communities were hard to reach because of poor roads.

He said diversification into road construction would broaden the company's foot print, at the same time, help in the development of social infrastructure and boost the goals of the country's economic plan, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Social Transformation (ZimAsset).

"It's been articulated by the government that all private players should participate in driving the four economic pillars including food security, social services, value addition and infrastructure development as outlined in ZimAsset.

"We have already chipped in to improve food security as we have introduced the Eco-Farmer in Murehwa, a project which will expand to all provinces country wide. This kind of project we are launching today falls under the social services cluster but we think we are solution providers, connectivity is our passion but the question is what can we do now to strengthen this priority, " he said.

He said with time, the group would intensify its efforts in upgrading roads especially in rural areas also acknowledging they had already ventured into this.

"We are in the communication business but we are also concerned with the deteriorating state of many roads in our country which at times prevent us to reach all populations, because of this need as Econet we will introduce ourselves into the road construction business.

Improving the state of roads is something that we will be focusing on as Econet going forward," said Mboweni.

Mboweni said Zimbabwe was sitting on the widest fibre network of approximately 7 200 kilometres and this gives the company the passion to increase internet linkups across the country.

Econet Wireless has launched many economic and social initiatives as part of its business, to improve people's lives.

Under the Energise the Chain initiative, Econet Wireless has already opened 111 Base Stations where critical vaccinations and medication to fight against five child killer diseases are kept and stored in cases of power outages.