Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
MATABELELAND South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Dr Evelyn Ndlovu, has stressed the need to foster investment partnerships between local authorities across African countries to help drive the continent’s economic growth and development.
Speaking during an interaction meeting with officials from Makhado Municipality in Limpopo Province, South Africa last Friday, Dr Ndlovu highlighted how African countries have immense potential when they work together.
She said Matabeleland South has vast investment opportunities in sectors such as livestock production, crop production, tourism, mining, infrastructure development and manufacturing, among others.
Makhado Municipality officials visited Gwanda to participate in the just-ended Matabeleland South Agricultural Show as part of their twinning arrangement with Gwanda Municipality.
“We wish to see your province and our province working together to ensure food security and nutrition. This past week, we had a SADC summit where we were deliberating on the issue of industrialisation of our provinces and our countries,” said Dr Ndlovu.
“We have to work hard as countries and provinces to industrialise as our industrialisation base is hinged on our agricultural activities, especially the livestock side. Our province is greatly involved in the production of livestock for the country and we are one of the producers of the best meat in the country.”
Dr Ndlovu said she is looking forward to the implementation of the agreement made between Gwanda Municipality and Makhado Municipality under the Trans-Limpopo Spatial Development Initiative.
“We have to work hard to ensure that we use this Trans-Limpopo arrangement to bring the much-needed development in the two provinces,” she said.
Dr Ndlovu urged African countries to prioritise the business opportunities available in the African market first before going out of the continent.
She said countries in Africa must learn to trade among themselves to develop their continent.
Dr Ndlovu said Africans are one people who have just been separated by boundaries that were created by the colonial regime.
“Gone are the days when the continent was seen as just a supplier of raw materials. Through synergies, countries can explore various value-addition chains,” she said.
“In Zimbabwe, we have a saying that drives our development, which says “ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo/nyika inovakwa nevene vayo”. As Africans, we must learn to build our nations.”
Dr Ndlovu said there is a need to promote trade between Zimbabwe and South Africa and the entire SADC region.
“Let’s create markets among ourselves, let’s take advantage of the population we have in the continent,” she said.
Makhado Municipality Mayor, Councillor Mahandana Dorcas Mboyi said her team is committed to ensuring that the twinning arrangement brings significant development to the two towns.
She said her delegation is committed to promoting the local economic development of the two municipalities.
Clr Mboyi said the two municipalities have similarities that could be used to build an enabling environment for sustainable, social and economic development.
“We are very happy to be here and we appreciate the warm welcome and hospitality, which has been extended to us. I would like to assure you of our commitment to ensuring that the Memorandum of Understanding between Gwanda and Makhado Municipality is a success,” she said.
Clr Mboyi said the two municipalities have an action plan under the Trans-Limpopo Spatial Development Initiative, which they are committed to executing.
“Our relationship will not just end with visits, but it will see the two municipalities working together and our business people. I assure you that something big is in the making through this partnership,” she said.
“We are here to learn and grow through interacting with Gwanda Municipality to better the lives of our people.”
Gwanda and Makhado municipalities recently revived their twinning arrangement by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) under the Trans-Limpopo Spatial Development Initiative.
The Trans-Limpopo Spatial Development Initiative was first proposed in 1998 with an MoU subsequently signed in March 2001 between Limpopo Province and the Matabeleland region.
The initiative is aimed at promoting economic growth in Limpopo and the Matabeleland region, which form a key trade artery for the region.
Using their strategic locations and strong social ties, the two countries could use their collective resources to integrate their economies.
South African and Zimbabwean authorities have resumed joint efforts to revive the implementation of the Trans-Limpopo Spatial Development Initiative. — @DubeMatutu
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