Maphisa gets town board status

ONCE a modest business centre nestled in the heart of Matobo District, Maphisa has undergone a remarkable transformation, culminating in its recent elevation to town board status, highlighting its potential as a developmental hub in Matabeleland South.

The milestone marks a new chapter in Maphisa’s journey, reflecting the dynamic growth and development that has reshaped the area over the years.

Maphisa’s massive development is largely driven by significant infrastructure improvements fuelled by mining and agricultural activities. Simultaneously, the diaspora community played a crucial role in Maphisa’s metamorphosis.

The transition will allow Maphisa to have its own revenue sources and funds, separate from the rural areas, leading to more focused and efficient development efforts.The town board status will attract more Government resources and facilitate better infrastructure, including improved sewer and water reticulation systems, tarred roads, and enhanced social amenities like electricity.

The elevation is expected to attract more investors, spurring further economic development and job creation.Plans are already in place to establish a milling plant, an abattoir, and recreational facilities, leveraging the region’s agricultural and livestock strengths.

Maphisa Business Centre has witnessed extensive economic growth, with massive construction of modern houses and commercial properties. Several double-storey buildings are under construction, indicating the ongoing transformation of the business centre into a burgeoning town.

A Chronicle news crew yesterday visited the business centre and observed the infrastructural development in the form of modern houses and commercial buildings. The business centre’s skyline is gradually punctuated by the silhouettes of double-storey buildings under construction.

In an interview yesterday, Matobo Rural District Council chief executive officer, Mr Elvis Sibanda, said the elevation of Maphisa will promote development in the district.

“We are pleased to inform the public and the nation at large that on June 14, 2024, Matobo RDC was granted a town board status. This is a welcome development on the part of Matobo RDC as we are geared for this paradigm shift of operating,” he said.

“So what drives the town board status is the development that has taken place and the main driving factors are mining and diaspora investments where we are witnessing the construction of houses and commercial buildings.”

Mr Sibanda said activities at the Agricultural Rural Development Authority (Arda) Antelope Farm, which is expected to run value-added agro-processing initiatives and cattle ranching, also contributed to the growth of Maphisa Business Centre.

Mr Sibanda said the new development will see Matobo having two local authorities.

“We will have a stand-alone system where some staff will focus on Maphisa as a Town Board. The sources of revenue of Maphisa will be utilised within Maphisa Town Board while those in rural areas will be used for development of rural areas,” he said.

“In terms of funds that we receive from the Government such as Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) funds, devolution funds, Maphisa Town Board will have its own funds while Matobo RDC will also have its own share. These are some of the benefits of the new status.”

Mr Sibanda said while commercial units are expanding, the business district has over 2,000 housing units to complement the growth of the business centre.He said the town board status came at the right time as local authorities are crafting new masterplans with Matobo RDC having adopted theirs yesterday.

Matobo District Development Coordinator, Mr Obey Chaputsira, said the district applied for town board status last year after observing that it had achieved a certain level of growth.

“We had seen that Maphisa has developed to a certain level which warranted that it becomes a local board on its own. This will help us to attract investors so that we can spur more economic development in this area,” he said.

“It will also assist in uplifting the social status of residents. A town will have more services for this community. But, of course, it will come with its own challenges because we will need to improve some of the infrastructure as the town continues to grow.”

Mr Chaputsira said there will be a need to improve sewer and water reticulation to match a town board status while improving revenue collection.

“We have several economic investment opportunities here in Maphisa. We are inviting the diaspora community to invest. We are thinking of setting up a milling plant here, we are also planning to have an abattoir, as you know the district is largely a livestock area,” he said.

“Besides harnessing water from Antelope Dam for irrigation, we are thinking of having recreational facilities at the dam.”

Mr Chaputsira said going forward there might be a need to avail more commercial and residential stands.

Maphisa Small and Medium Enterprises chairperson, Mr Denny Ncube, said the granting of town board status is a reflection of the confidence of the Government in efforts by the local community to transform the district.

“This is a welcome development. Maphisa Business Centre has over the years experienced exponential growth largely through mining and diaspora investment.

“As you visit Maphisa, you will find a lot of new buildings, with some foreign architectural designs showing that as our people move to the diaspora, they bring those ideas back home,” he said.

Residents’ representative Mr Mcedisi Mavuso Tshabalala said they are optimistic that the granting of town board status will result in the upgrading of social amenities, including connecting electricity in their houses.

“We are proud that we have been granted town board status. This will result in the value of our houses also appreciating and more people willing to invest in our town. We are working to ensure that our houses are electrified,” he said. — @nqotshili