Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
SCALING up engagement with the diaspora community is critical in harnessing resources to grow the Matabeleland South economy and ensuring its meaningful contribution towards the attainment of Vision 2030.
According to the reviewed provincial economic development plan, the province’s growth lies in securing investment in key sectors such as mining, agriculture, tourism, and hospitality.
“The province is home to one of the busiest inland ports within the Sadc region, and four other border posts. This strategic location has seen the province having the highest number of people living and working in the diaspora, particularly in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia,” reads part of the document.
“The diaspora is a reliable pool of potential investors who can turn around the provincial fortunes, through capital investments and remittances to their loved ones.
“To ensure that the province keeps track with the objectives of Vision 2030 and the NDS1 thrust, priority will be to increase production and productivity in sectors such as mining, agriculture, tourism and hospitality, which are the key economic drivers in the province.”
According to the reviewed provincial blueprint, investors could develop the energy sector through the installation of solar plants. Investment opportunities in the agricultural sector include fodder irrigation, stock feed manufacturing plants, small grain production processing, irrigation development, marula, soya and peanut oil production, fruit juice production, beef and fish processing, milling and bakery, processing and packaging of mopani worms, export, and use as ingredients for manufacturing of medicine.
The agricultural sector also has opportunities in pecan nut production, goat production, bee-keeping and cattle breeding.
“Under transport, infrastructure and utilities there is the construction of dam, development of border posts, construction of schools and tertiary institutions. There is also the development of social and public utilities such as state of the art stadiums, theatres, amphitheaters, and showgrounds, golf courses; public parks among other recreational facilities,” reads the document.
“Tourism has the construction of hotels and lodges and diverse tourist destinations. Land is also available to construct health facilities,” reads the economic development plan.
The province is endowed with a wide range of natural resources and livestock. It has a huge and highly diversified mineral resource base dominated by two prominent geological features namely the famous Great Dyke and the ancient green-stone belts, also known as “gold belts”.
The province is endowed with valuable mineral resources such as gold, diamonds, platinum, salt deposits, copper, emeralds, lithium, tungsten, asbestos, and nickel.
“Major mines that are active in the province include Blanket Mine, which is the best-producing gold mine in the country. We also have Vumbachikwe, How Mine, Jesse and Farvic gold mining companies.
“We are home to the largest cement producing company, PPC Zimbabwe Limited. Small-scale miners are dotted around the province with the potential to become big miners should they get investors,” reads the economic development plan.
Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Dr Evelyn Ndlovu said unity of purpose and collective effort is crucial in attainment of inclusive socio-economic growth in the province.
“I implore all stakeholders, to contribute in collective and concerted efforts to translate this provincial economic development plan into tangible realities to optimise developmental dividends,” she said.
“In pursuit of the national vision to achieve an empowered and prosperous upper middle-income society by 2030, Matabeleland South Province can only count on its comparative advantages, such as minerals, land for agriculture, being home to five border posts inclusive of Beitbridge Border post. The province has a huge potential in solar energy development, tourism and livestock breeding.”
The minister said there was significant diaspora community from neighbouring countries and beyond, with potential to partner other investors for the development of the province in pursuit of Vision 2030. She said tertiary institutions in the province have also been mandated to monitor ecological resources and lead in innovation, science and technology.
“With all these initiatives, interventions and strategies the province is assured of improved livelihood, employment creation and poverty eradication,” said Dr Ndlovu. —@DubeMatutu
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