Zimbabwe Economic News: RwandAir to Harare, Mall of Zimbabwe, Kariba power project, Delta Beverages recycling
RwandAir eyes Harare route
There are revelations of more positive developments as it emerges that Rwanda’s state-owned national airline RwandAir plans to fly to Harare and Cape Town, South Africa later this year as part of its expansion programme. The airline will join the growing list of foreign airlines servicing the Harare route since the formation of the inclusive government in 2009. The company’s chief executive officer John Mirenge said recently – NewsDay, Wednesday February 13.
Construction of Multimillion-dollar Mall of Zimbabwe
Moreover, the construction of the multimillion-dollar Mall of Zimbabwe shopping complex in Borrowdale is awaiting approval of the plan by the City of Harare, Augur Investments chairman Ken Sharpe said on Monday. The complex, to cost more than $100 mln, is a joint venture between construction giants Augur Investments, McCormick Property Development and West Properties. Sharpe said in an interview the Environmental Management Agency had since cleared the project – Herald, Wednesday February 13.
Kariba power project set to begin this year
Furthermore, the construction of Kariba South Hydropower Station is likely to begin later this year, Energy and Power Development Minister Elton Mangoma said yesterday. A Chinese firm, Sino Hydro, won the contract ahead of 5 other bidders to build two units at
Kariba with generating capacity of 300 megawatts at a cost of $368 mln. The contractors are working on a detailed design (of the project) and they have indicated that this may take 6 to 8 months, and then the actual construction will follow. He said the funds for the project would be available by the end of next month – Herald, Thursday February 14, web edition
Philips to reinvest in Zimbabwe
Netherlands based Royal Philips Electronics (Philips) plans to reinvest in Zimbabwe, more than a decade after it left the country. Juan Van Dongen, general manager of the company’s Africa division, said they had a multi-year investment plan to significantly
increase Philips footprint on the continent in the coming years. Philips employs more than 116 000 workers in more than 60 countries worldwide – Daily News, Thursday February 14.
Beverage industry firms partner to recycle plastic
A local beverage industry initiative, Petrocozim, has started consultations on an environmental impact assessment for a multi-million dollar polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling plant in Harare.
The entity was created to provide a solution to the environmental challenges affecting the country primarily focused on post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate by providing national springboard for the sustainable collection and recycling of PET.
The founding members of the company include Delta Beverages, Coca-Cola Central Africa, Schweppes Zimbabwe, Megapak, Pet Packaging, Lyons Zimbabwe, Dairibord Zimbabwe, Tanganda Tea Company, Nestle Zimbabwe and Mutare Bottling Company – NewsDay, Friday February 15.