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Govt engages consultancy in IT development for three ministries

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GOVERNMENT has invited contractors to provide consultancy services in the development of an information technology system for three ministries as it moves to activate the grant from AfDB.

GOVERNMENT has invited contractors to provide consultancy services in the development of an information technology system for three ministries as it moves to activate the grant from the African Development Bank (AfDB).

CHIEF BUSINESS REPORTER

In January, AfDB gave Zimbabwe a $$4,1 million grant under the Youth and Tourism Enhancement Project meant to contribute to reducing poverty and youth unemployment.

AfDB said it was giving the country “greater financial latitude for developing tourism and youth services, particularly small-and medium-sized businesses that are run by youths in Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces”.

In a notice on Sunday, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development said the information technology system to be developed covered three ministries—Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, and Small and Medium Enterprises and Co-operative Development.

Contractors have to assess the existing systems in the three ministries and get the requirements of the different ministries and proceed to develop the required systems and the technical specifications of their components.

“The Government of Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, now invites eligible consultancy firms to indicate their interest in providing these services,” the ministry said.

“Consultancy firms may constitute joint ventures to enhance their chances of qualification.”

The estimated period of executing the task will be two months. The ministry said expressions of interests have to be made by August 20.

Last month government invited consultants to develop a National Tourism Masterplan to activate the same grant.

The selected consultants are expected to start work next month for seven months.

“The services included under this project are to develop a clear and concise National Tourism Masterplan. It will provide direction to product development and diversification, infrastructure development, manpower development, community participation, preservation of nature, culture and heritage, marketing and promotion strategies, among others,” the Ministry of Finance said.

Despite constituting a huge chunk of the population, a number of youths find themselves out of formal employment as companies are cutting jobs to stay afloat in a volatile environment hamstrung by the liquidity constraints.

In the 2014 National Budget, Finance and Economic Development minister Patrick Chinamasa said the finalisation of the Youth Economic Empowerment Policy Framework remained a priority in championing participation of youths in income generating projects across all sectors of the economy.

He said the implementation of the policy would be within the context of the small to medium enterprises development strategy.