Rutendo Nyeve
THE Hwange Local Board (HLB) has reaffirmed its commitment to turning mining, industry, tourism and natural resources into real economic and social gains for residents.
Chairperson Cllr Peterson Ncube said this at a Strategic Planning Review Workshop in Monde, outside Victoria Falls, on Monday.
The workshop brought together stakeholders to review and shape the council’s strategic direction.
Cllr Ncube said it came at a critical moment, not just to review plans but to shape Hwange’s future and improve residents’ quality of life.
“Strategic planning is not simply about predicting the future; it is about making deliberate decisions today that will determine the future we create tomorrow,” he said.
He acknowledged challenges including ageing infrastructure, financial constraints, rapid urbanisation and rising service delivery expectations. These, he said, should inspire innovation rather than limit the board.
“Hwange occupies a unique strategic position as a mining, industrial and tourism-linked urban centre. Our proximity to major tourism destinations, abundant natural resources and existing industrial activities presents immense opportunities for economic diversification, investment, employment and sustainable urban development,” Cllr Ncube said.
“Our responsibility is to transform these opportunities into tangible benefits for the people of Hwange.”
He outlined six priorities that include reliable water supply and effective waste management; financial sustainability through stronger revenue collection; infrastructure development; Local Economic Development through public-private partnerships and SME support; good governance and accountability; and environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
Cllr Ncube called for alignment with Vision 2030 to help build an empowered upper-middle-income society.
He warned the strategic plan must not gather dust, but be a living management instrument backed by realistic budgets, clear responsibilities, measurable indicators and monitoring and evaluation.
He challenged participants to adopt a results-driven approach, asking hard questions about service standards and revenue maximisation.
“We must move from planning to implementation, from promises to performance, and from expenditure to demonstrable public value,” he said.
He reminded leaders that they are custodians of public trust, urging decisions guided by community aspirations, not personal interests.
“Let this workshop mark a renewed commitment to institutional excellence, financial discipline, improved service delivery and sustainable urban transformation,” he said.
“Our collective ambition must be clear: to build a financially sustainable, economically vibrant, environmentally responsible and well-governed Hwange that offers a better quality of life for all.
Together, let us plan with vision, act with purpose and deliver with excellence.”
