Gokwe North RDC moves to upgrade Nembudziya growth point to town status

GOKWE North Rural District Council has launched an ambitious programme to upgrade Nembudziya Growth Point as it moves towards attaining full town status. The initiative is intended to accelerate rural industrialisation, stimulate economic growth in the district and improve living standards for local communities.

This was disclosed by the local authority’s information communication technology manager, Mr Tapiwa Machingura, during an interview.

“As Gokwe North Rural District Council, we have embarked on an ambitious programme to upgrade Nembudziya Growth Point as we move towards transforming into a town status. The bold move is aimed at spearheading rural industrialisation drive to uplift the local economy and subsequently the livelihoods of the locals,” he said.

Mr Machingura said the council has already met key regulatory requirements after receiving approval to proceed with the transition process.

“We’re finalising outstanding requirements needed to attain town status. This includes upgrading roads, improving infrastructure, and initiating the formal transition from a rural district council to a town council,” he said.

Although the transformation process is expected to take between five and 10 years, officials said the timeframe is consistent with the aspirations of local communities and national Vision 2030 objectives.

Once regarded as a remote and underdeveloped area, Gokwe North has witnessed notable improvements over the past year.

“Eight to 10 months ago, there was very little surfaced road infrastructure, but that has changed significantly,” said Mr Machingura.

He cited the ongoing surfacing of the Jahana-Nembudziya Road as a major development, noting that the project is expected to reduce transport costs and enhance accessibility within the district.

Improvements have also been recorded in social services, with the district currently having six doctors against an approved establishment of 10, representing a marked improvement in healthcare delivery.

The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has approved Gokwe North’s master plan, which designates extensive areas for residential and institutional development.

As part of efforts to fast-track urban growth, the council has serviced new residential stands under a modern layout and set aside land for higher education institutions, with capacity to accommodate up to six universities.

The local authority has also entered into a partnership with a major local university to support infrastructure development and signed an agreement with the diaspora for the development of a gated residential community in Nembudziya.

Beyond urban development, the district is positioning itself as a potential hub for tourism and natural resource exploitation. Gandavaroyi Gorge has been identified as a key tourism site showcasing Shangwe cultural heritage, alongside a game park that hosts more than 2 000 elephants and a sizeable buffalo population.

The energy and mining sectors are also showing strong growth prospects, with current opencast coal mining operations producing about 70 000 tonnes per month, while further opportunities exist in solar energy, gold and copper mining.

Despite the expanding investment portfolio, agriculture remains the backbone of the district’s economy, with cotton being the main crop supported under Government input schemes.

“There is significant potential for growth in production, retail and service sectors,” said Mr Machingura, who also appealed for increased private sector partnerships to complement Government-led development initiatives.