Opinion / Columnist
Zimbabweans appreciate real development but can't keep quiet when it's a veil for looting
31 May 2025 at 19:31hrs | Views
This is a fact we all need to understand.
Zimbabweans are a naturally appreciative people.
We are not inherently negative or ungrateful.
On the contrary, we cherish and celebrate development.
We desire to see our nation grow, with new infrastructure that eases our lives and boosts economic productivity.
We long for roads that do not resemble warzones, power supply that does not cut off for sixteen hours a day, and hospitals, schools, and public facilities that actually serve their intended purposes.
To directly receive articles from Tendai Ruben Mbofana, please join his WhatsApp Channel on: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaqprWCIyPtRnKpkHe08
So, when the government undertakes infrastructure projects - whether building new roads, rehabilitating old ones, or expanding power generation - we should have every reason to celebrate.
After all, we are the ones who suffer when roads are left in such disrepair that they destroy our vehicles and risk our lives.
We are the ones left in the dark - literally - when power stations break down and load shedding becomes a permanent fixture of our lives.
And we are the ones who pay the price, both financially and emotionally, for public services that have collapsed from decades of neglect and corruption.
That is why development is welcome.
That is why it is necessary.
That is why it must be done.
But here's the question: what kind of development are we really getting under President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration?
The reality is that what is being paraded as "development" today is, in many cases, nothing more than an elaborate cover for looting public funds.
These projects have been captured - not for national transformation, but for political expediency and personal enrichment.
They are often overpriced, executed by companies linked to those in power, and done so poorly that they barely last beyond a few weeks or months or years.
In some cases, the projects are never completed at all, despite full payment having been made.
Let's consider the much-publicized new stadium constructed in Nembudziya for the 2025 independence celebrations.
This project was reportedly budgeted at US$4 million, a hefty investment by any standard, especially in a rural area with dire development needs.
One would expect a state-of-the-art facility that would uplift the community by attracting sporting events and encouraging youth participation in sport.
Yet, in a spectacular embarrassment, the stadium failed on its very first day of use.
The pitch and spectator bays were flooded due to a poorly designed drainage system.
Bucket seats came apart.
The structure quite literally crumbled under the spotlight of Independence Day.
Despite the millions sunk into it, no one has been held accountable.
No inquiry has been launched. No answers have been given.
Are the people of Gokwe expected to be thankful for this?
Is it unpatriotic to demand accountability for this waste of public resources?
A similar scandal is the phantom 100 MW solar power plant in Gwanda.
This project was supposed to be a welcome relief for a country that has battled a crippling power crisis for years.
A US$5 million advance payment was made to controversial tenderpreneur Wicknell Chivayo for preliminary work.
A decade later, there is still no power plant to talk about.
The land is bare.
The people of Matabeleland South, and Zimbabwe as a whole, are still stuck in the dark.
Meanwhile, Chivayo walks free, flaunting unexplained wealth and boasting about his proximity to power.
Is it a crime to ask where the money went? Is it wrong to demand transparency?
Or are we to clap hands for a "development project" that never materialized?
Then came the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Program (ERRP), launched in 2023 with much fanfare.
There was a flicker of hope.
Major roads in towns and cities were resurfaced, giving the impression that Zimbabwe was finally turning a corner.
But barely two years later, that optimism has faded.
Roads remain incomplete, untouched, or deteriorating once again.
One glaring example is Lorraine Drive in Harare, where potholes reemerged within months.
The rehabilitation was so substandard that it became an insult to taxpayers.
The contract had been awarded to Fossil Contracting, a company reportedly fronted by Obey Chimuka - a known associate of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei.
Although the government ordered the company to redo the work, this was mere window dressing.
The core issue remained - contracts were being handed out based on political loyalty, not merit, and often without following proper procurement processes.
The result? Grossly overpriced projects that do not serve the people.
This same company, Fossil Contracting, together with Masimba Construction and Tensor Systems, was involved in constructing the newly commissioned Mbudzi Interchange in Harare - now curiously renamed "Trabablas" in honour of President Mnangagwa.
Costing over US$88 million, the interchange was presented as a symbol of progress.
But does it reflect the money spent?
Comparisons with other regional projects raise red flags.
The Umgeni Interchange in Durban, South Africa - an architectural and engineering marvel - cost approximately US$49 million, nearly half the cost of Mbudzi.
And yet, the Umgeni Interchange is far more advanced, intricate, and durable.
Why did Mbudzi cost almost twice as much for visibly less sophistication?
Where did the rest of the money go?
It is not enough to say, "Let's appreciate the government when it does something good."
Yes, we must give credit where it's due. But that credit cannot come blindly.
We cannot overlook corruption, mediocrity, and waste simply because a structure has been erected or a ribbon has been cut.
Real development must be honest, accountable, and transformative - not cosmetic projects meant to dazzle the public and fatten the pockets of the politically connected.
Imagine I was hired to offer my services - whether speaking on anti-corruption, conducting human rights or social justice training, or editing a manuscript - and I delivered substandard work, or worse, did nothing at all, yet still expected praise and gratitude from my clients.
Would that be fair?
Wouldn't those clients have every right to demand quality and accountability for their money?
Why then should it be different when the government, using public funds, does a half-baked job or no job at all?
Criticizing poor delivery is not being unpatriotic.
In fact, it is the highest form of patriotism.
We must never allow ourselves to be silenced under the guise of "being appreciative."
If anything, those who truly love Zimbabwe must be the loudest voices against corruption masquerading as development.
We want infrastructure. We want power. We want progress.
But not at any cost - and certainly not at the cost of our dignity, truth, and national future.
© Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice advocate and writer. Please feel free to WhatsApp or Call: +263715667700 | +263782283975, or email: mbofana.tendairuben73@gmail.com, or visit website: https://mbofanatendairuben.news.blog/
Zimbabweans are a naturally appreciative people.
We are not inherently negative or ungrateful.
On the contrary, we cherish and celebrate development.
We desire to see our nation grow, with new infrastructure that eases our lives and boosts economic productivity.
We long for roads that do not resemble warzones, power supply that does not cut off for sixteen hours a day, and hospitals, schools, and public facilities that actually serve their intended purposes.
To directly receive articles from Tendai Ruben Mbofana, please join his WhatsApp Channel on: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaqprWCIyPtRnKpkHe08
So, when the government undertakes infrastructure projects - whether building new roads, rehabilitating old ones, or expanding power generation - we should have every reason to celebrate.
After all, we are the ones who suffer when roads are left in such disrepair that they destroy our vehicles and risk our lives.
We are the ones left in the dark - literally - when power stations break down and load shedding becomes a permanent fixture of our lives.
And we are the ones who pay the price, both financially and emotionally, for public services that have collapsed from decades of neglect and corruption.
That is why development is welcome.
That is why it is necessary.
That is why it must be done.
But here's the question: what kind of development are we really getting under President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration?
The reality is that what is being paraded as "development" today is, in many cases, nothing more than an elaborate cover for looting public funds.
These projects have been captured - not for national transformation, but for political expediency and personal enrichment.
They are often overpriced, executed by companies linked to those in power, and done so poorly that they barely last beyond a few weeks or months or years.
In some cases, the projects are never completed at all, despite full payment having been made.
Let's consider the much-publicized new stadium constructed in Nembudziya for the 2025 independence celebrations.
This project was reportedly budgeted at US$4 million, a hefty investment by any standard, especially in a rural area with dire development needs.
One would expect a state-of-the-art facility that would uplift the community by attracting sporting events and encouraging youth participation in sport.
Yet, in a spectacular embarrassment, the stadium failed on its very first day of use.
The pitch and spectator bays were flooded due to a poorly designed drainage system.
Bucket seats came apart.
The structure quite literally crumbled under the spotlight of Independence Day.
Despite the millions sunk into it, no one has been held accountable.
No inquiry has been launched. No answers have been given.
Are the people of Gokwe expected to be thankful for this?
Is it unpatriotic to demand accountability for this waste of public resources?
A similar scandal is the phantom 100 MW solar power plant in Gwanda.
This project was supposed to be a welcome relief for a country that has battled a crippling power crisis for years.
A US$5 million advance payment was made to controversial tenderpreneur Wicknell Chivayo for preliminary work.
A decade later, there is still no power plant to talk about.
The land is bare.
The people of Matabeleland South, and Zimbabwe as a whole, are still stuck in the dark.
Meanwhile, Chivayo walks free, flaunting unexplained wealth and boasting about his proximity to power.
Is it a crime to ask where the money went? Is it wrong to demand transparency?
Or are we to clap hands for a "development project" that never materialized?
Then came the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Program (ERRP), launched in 2023 with much fanfare.
There was a flicker of hope.
Major roads in towns and cities were resurfaced, giving the impression that Zimbabwe was finally turning a corner.
But barely two years later, that optimism has faded.
Roads remain incomplete, untouched, or deteriorating once again.
One glaring example is Lorraine Drive in Harare, where potholes reemerged within months.
The rehabilitation was so substandard that it became an insult to taxpayers.
The contract had been awarded to Fossil Contracting, a company reportedly fronted by Obey Chimuka - a known associate of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei.
Although the government ordered the company to redo the work, this was mere window dressing.
The core issue remained - contracts were being handed out based on political loyalty, not merit, and often without following proper procurement processes.
The result? Grossly overpriced projects that do not serve the people.
This same company, Fossil Contracting, together with Masimba Construction and Tensor Systems, was involved in constructing the newly commissioned Mbudzi Interchange in Harare - now curiously renamed "Trabablas" in honour of President Mnangagwa.
Costing over US$88 million, the interchange was presented as a symbol of progress.
But does it reflect the money spent?
Comparisons with other regional projects raise red flags.
The Umgeni Interchange in Durban, South Africa - an architectural and engineering marvel - cost approximately US$49 million, nearly half the cost of Mbudzi.
And yet, the Umgeni Interchange is far more advanced, intricate, and durable.
Why did Mbudzi cost almost twice as much for visibly less sophistication?
Where did the rest of the money go?
It is not enough to say, "Let's appreciate the government when it does something good."
Yes, we must give credit where it's due. But that credit cannot come blindly.
We cannot overlook corruption, mediocrity, and waste simply because a structure has been erected or a ribbon has been cut.
Real development must be honest, accountable, and transformative - not cosmetic projects meant to dazzle the public and fatten the pockets of the politically connected.
Imagine I was hired to offer my services - whether speaking on anti-corruption, conducting human rights or social justice training, or editing a manuscript - and I delivered substandard work, or worse, did nothing at all, yet still expected praise and gratitude from my clients.
Would that be fair?
Wouldn't those clients have every right to demand quality and accountability for their money?
Why then should it be different when the government, using public funds, does a half-baked job or no job at all?
Criticizing poor delivery is not being unpatriotic.
In fact, it is the highest form of patriotism.
We must never allow ourselves to be silenced under the guise of "being appreciative."
If anything, those who truly love Zimbabwe must be the loudest voices against corruption masquerading as development.
We want infrastructure. We want power. We want progress.
But not at any cost - and certainly not at the cost of our dignity, truth, and national future.
© Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice advocate and writer. Please feel free to WhatsApp or Call: +263715667700 | +263782283975, or email: mbofana.tendairuben73@gmail.com, or visit website: https://mbofanatendairuben.news.blog/
Source - Tendai Ruben Mbofana
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