Zimbabwe and South Africa have been urged to strengthen cooperation in construction standards, infrastructure financing and contractor development as the two countries seek to play a greater role in regional infrastructure development.
Zimbabwe Building Contractors Association president and Sub-Saharan infrastructure expert Dr Tinashe Manzungu made the call after meeting South Africa’s Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and Master Builders South Africa president Sam Nxongo.
The discussions focused on South Africa’s drive to establish itself as a gateway to the African continent through a more efficient, innovative and better-funded infrastructure and construction sector.
Manzungu said the engagement also provided an opportunity to explore areas where Zimbabwe and South Africa could work together on major regional infrastructure projects.
“Our discussion naturally turned to Zimbabwe and the need for our two countries to align construction standards, financing frameworks and contractor capabilities so that we can jointly participate in regional infrastructure development,” he said.
The modernisation of the Beitbridge Border Post featured prominently in the discussions, with Manzungu describing the project as evidence of Zimbabwe’s ability to undertake major infrastructure developments.
The border post is an important component of the North-South Corridor, which links countries in southern and central Africa and supports the movement of goods to regional and international markets.
Manzungu said Godongwana welcomed the progress made at Beitbridge and viewed it as an example of the potential for closer cooperation between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
“The Minister expressed his satisfaction with the development and what it demonstrates about Zimbabwe’s readiness to work alongside South Africa in strengthening the North–South corridor and positioning our two countries as gateways into the continent,” Manzungu said.
The call for greater cooperation comes as African countries push for improved infrastructure to support trade, industrialisation and economic integration under initiatives including the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Manzungu believes Zimbabwe and South Africa can combine their respective strengths to support infrastructure development across the region.
He described the potential partnership as: “South African financial capacity + Zimbabwean infrastructure opportunities + harmonised standards = stronger regional development.”
The proposed cooperation would go beyond individual construction projects and focus on strengthening the wider construction industries of both countries.
Harmonised standards could allow contractors, construction materials and technical expertise to move more easily across borders, while coordinated financing frameworks could help attract private and institutional investment into large infrastructure projects.
Manzungu also highlighted contractor development as an important part of the proposed partnership, particularly as governments across Africa seek to ensure that infrastructure spending benefits local businesses and builds domestic technical capacity.
He has previously called for greater empowerment of African contractors and stronger regional cooperation in infrastructure development.
Addressing the Master Builders South Africa Congress in KwaZulu-Natal, Manzungu said African countries should move away from isolated national infrastructure planning and focus more on cross-border corridors that connect markets, communities and economies.
His latest engagement with Godongwana and Nxongo adds to that call, placing Zimbabwe-South Africa cooperation within the wider drive for regional infrastructure integration.
The Beitbridge Border Post remains a practical example of the value of major infrastructure investment. Its modernisation has upgraded one of the key crossing points between Zimbabwe and South Africa while improving the infrastructure supporting regional trade and movement.
Manzungu said the focus should now be on using such projects as a foundation for stronger institutional, commercial and financial links between the two countries.
He said Africa’s ambitions should also go beyond increasing trade between countries on the continent.
“Africa must move beyond trading together; we must finance, build and grow together,” he said.
Greater cooperation in infrastructure, financing and regulation could therefore help Zimbabwe and South Africa strengthen their positions as key gateways into southern Africa while contributing to the continent’s broader economic integration agenda.