Zimbabwe has approved 30 public-private partnership (PPP) projects with a projected investment value of US$7 billion, as the government seeks to mobilise private capital to accelerate infrastructure development and address gaps in public services.
The portfolio, covering projects approved between 2018 and June 2026, has already created 2,008 jobs, with women accounting for 41% of employment generated, according to Taurai Duku, head of PPPs and Project Development at the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA).
Duku presented the status of Zimbabwe’s PPP programme at the 2026 Media Engagement Forum, outlining how the government intends to use partnerships with private investors to finance, develop and manage infrastructure and public services.
The portfolio shows varying stages of implementation. Eight approved projects are currently at the operation and maintenance stage, while five are under construction and delivery. A further nine projects are at the fundraising stage and two are undergoing contract negotiations.
However, six approved PPPs have been cancelled, highlighting the challenges involved in moving large infrastructure projects from approval to implementation.
Duku said the PPP programme remained a strategic vehicle for “mobilising private sector capital, accelerating infrastructure delivery, promoting investment, and supporting economic transformation in Zimbabwe.”
The government approved a new PPP Guideline in March 2026, issued under the ZIDA Act [Chapter 14:38]. The guideline is intended to provide the country’s primary framework for structuring partnerships between government and the private sector.
Under the framework, a PPP is defined as a long-term contract between government and a private-sector partner in which the private party finances, manages and assumes risks associated with the project, with payments linked to performance and service delivery.
The emphasis on risk transfer is central to the framework.
Rather than government simply contracting a company to build an infrastructure project, PPPs are designed to allocate specific risks to the party best able to manage them while tying returns to the delivery and performance of the project.
“Key idea is Risk transfer plus performance-based returns,” Duku said.
The government believes the model can help address Zimbabwe’s infrastructure financing gap while bringing private-sector expertise into the delivery and management of public projects. PPPs can help close infrastructure and service gaps, mobilise private capital and improve technical capacity, while allowing government and investors to share risks.
The model is also intended to improve project management and monitoring and ensure infrastructure is properly maintained throughout its operational life. The new framework distinguishes PPPs from conventional government projects.
Fully government-funded projects, grants and donations do not qualify as PPPs. Neither do arrangements where there is no meaningful transfer of risk to the private sector. Permanent sales of public assets are also excluded.
The framework covers different models, including infrastructure and service PPPs, economic and social PPPs, user-pay projects funded through mechanisms such as tolls and tariffs, and government-pay arrangements. It also provides for concessions and joint ventures.
The scale of a project determines the approval process. PPP projects valued at US$5 million or less are classified as small-scale projects and are approved by the PPP Committee, with Cabinet informed of the decision. Projects worth more than US$5 million are classified as large-scale and require full Cabinet approval.
The framework places ZIDA at the centre of the PPP governance structure, alongside contracting authorities, line ministries, the PPP Committee, Cabinet, the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) and other counterparties.
Several pieces of legislation underpin the programme, including the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act, the Public Finance Management Act, the Income Tax Act and the Companies and Other Business Entities Act.
The PPP process begins before approval with project identification, development of a concept note, pre-feasibility and full feasibility studies, followed by procurement of an investor and preparation of a draft agreement.
Once a PPP project has been approved, ZIDA notifies the contracting authority of the Cabinet decision. This is followed by negotiations of the PPP agreement, signing of the agreement, issuance of an investor licence and financial close. Projects then move into contract management, with a Joint Implementation Committee established to oversee implementation where required.
The framework also provides mechanisms for amendments to PPP agreements and for monitoring and evaluation by ZIDA. At the end of a PPP arrangement, the framework provides for processes including asset handback and termination of the PPP agreement.
Duku said the guideline was intended to bring greater structure and transparency to the PPP process while improving investor confidence.
The guideline includes standardised documentation for different stages of project development, including a project concept note, pre-feasibility study template, outline for a full feasibility study, project financial model and final PPP project proposal.
It also provides for a draft PPP agreement and terms of reference for PPP negotiation teams.
For investors, the government is promoting opportunities across several sectors. These include energy and renewable power projects, transport and logistics infrastructure, water and sanitation systems, tourism and hospitality, vehicle management, student accommodation and farming.
Despite the US$7 billion projected value of the approved portfolio, the six cancelled projects and the nine still seeking funding underline the distinction between an approved PPP and an operational investment.
Projects must still progress through negotiations, financing, financial close and implementation before their full economic impact can be realised. The government’s challenge will therefore be to turn the pipeline into completed infrastructure and functioning services while maintaining transparency, managing risks and giving investors confidence in the regulatory framework.
Duku said PPPs were critical to Zimbabwe’s infrastructure development and economic transformation, while the new guideline would strengthen transparency and investor confidence.
