derick.khumalo
Sikhulekelani Moyo
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BULAWAYO Metropolitan Province is intensifying efforts to reclaim its position as Zimbabwe’s industrial heartland, with government and Parliament aligning on infrastructure development, investment promotion and institutional oversight to drive the city’s economic revival.
Speaking during a national capacity building workshop on Budget Analysis in Bulawayo on Saturday, Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Judith Ncube said the province is leveraging its historical strengths to attract new investment under the National Development Strategy.
“Our metropolitan province occupies a special place in Zimbabwe’s history, from the era of King Lobengula’s capital to its rise as the nation’s industrial heartland,” said Mr Ncube.
“The province has long been recognised as a centre of leadership, enterprise and innovation.”
The Minister said Bulawayo is currently embracing new opportunities through industrial renewal, infrastructure development, investment promotion and the implementation of the development agenda.
She described the city’s trajectory as one defined by resilience and transformation, noting that few cities in Zimbabwe embody that spirit as profoundly as Bulawayo Metropolitan Province.
“As the Government advances its development agenda and the aspirations of future generations, the province remains steadfast in reclaiming its position as a vibrant centre of industrial investment and opportunity,” she said.
The renewed push comes as authorities seek to revive factories, modernise industrial infrastructure, and position Bulawayo to benefit from value chains in manufacturing, agro-processing and logistics.
Minister Ncube said Parliament is a critical partner in ensuring that public resources support the province’s industrial turnaround.
“In this endeavour, Parliament remains an indispensable partner through its oversight role, helping to ensure that public resources are utilised efficiently, transparently and in ways that improve the lives of our people,” she said.
She added that collaborative engagements between Government and legislative committees remain invaluable in building strong institutions that are responsive to the aspirations of thr people and in advancing goals set out under Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy.
Once the country’s manufacturing capital, Bulawayo is now targeting a return to prominence through targeted investment promotion and public-private partnerships.
Provincial authorities say the city’s established skills base, rail and road links, and industrial land make it well-placed to lead in inclusive and sustainable national development.
The continued selection of Bulawayo to host national engagements, the Minister noted, reflects the strong partnership that exists between Parliament and provincial authorities in advancing Zimbabwe’s development agenda and the confidence in the province’s capacity to drive economic growth.
“Together, we continue to lay the foundation for inclusive and sustainable national development,” Minister Ncube said.
