Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Zimpapers Writer
BULAWAYO-Maphisa Road is set for a major upgrade ahead of the 2026 national Independence Day Celebrations, which will be hosted in Maphisa, Matobo District, Matabeleland South province, in honour of the late Father Zimbabwe while buttressing the Second Republic’s devolution drive.
Cabinet yesterday discussed the plans to urgently rehabilitate the Bulawayo-Maphisa Road, which will be extended to Mpoengs Border with Botswana to ensure regional connectivity, fostering economic growth and promoting social cohesion.
Gwanda-Maphisa Road will also be upgraded to improve intra-district connectivity and unlock more business opportunities within the province.
Driving robust infrastructure development is a key focus area for Government as improved infrastructure is an enabler for accelerated economic growth.
In his post-Cabinet media briefing yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere, said the rehabilitation of Gwanda-Maphisa Road was part of bold moves to rotate national events across all provinces, which has resulted in a number of legacy projects being implemented in host provinces.
Dr Muswere said Cabinet noted and approved the update on the status of Independence Day Commemorations and Children’s Party Legacy projects, as well as the proposed venue for the 46th Independence Day and 2026 Children’s Party.
“Regarding the 46th Independence Day and Children’s Party Celebrations, Cabinet has approved Maphisa Open Space in Matobo District, Matabeleland South Province to host the event,” he said.
“This strategic selection leverages Maphisa’s profound historical significance and multifaceted benefits. Notably, the event will catalyse infrastructure development, including the rehabilitation of key roads such as the Gwanda-Maphisa and Bulawayo-Maphisa roads,” said Dr Muswere.
He said Government has made significant strides in implementing legacy projects initiated during Independence Day and Children’s Party Celebrations in different provinces across the country and it remains committed to replicating the initiative in the remaining provinces as they take turns to play host to national events.
The projects include clinics, bridges, schools, roads and supporting infrastructure under a strategy to ensure sustainable development in the host province thereby transforming people’s livelihoods.
“In this regard, a budget of US$2,5 million was approved to finalise outstanding works in Manicaland and Mashonaland Central provinces. Additionally, US$32,5 million will be disbursed to support legacy projects in the Midlands Province to ensure all projects are completed,” said Dr Muswere.
In the spirit of decentralisation and devolution, the rotational hosting of national events introduced by President Mnangagwa has become an equaliser and a model for ensuring that no one and no place is left behind in terms of participation in national programmes and projects.
This year’s celebrations were held in Nembudziya, Gokwe North, in the Midlands province and the district saw massive infrastructure development such as drilling of boreholes, construction and rehabilitation of classroom blocks, a mortuary as well as a football stadium as well as improvement of key roads such as the Nembudziya-Sanyati-Kadoma Road.
In his report, Dr Muswere revealed that a total of 213 projects were submitted for implementation under the second 100-Day cycle, which commenced on May 15, 2025 and ends on August 23, 2025.
He said the selected priority projects are strategic and should meaningfully contribute to the expeditious implementation of National Development Strategy 1: 2021-2025, in pursuit of Vision 2030 aspirations.
He said the projects were selected based on the 100-Day cycle set criteria and are citizen-centric, of high impact and can be implemented rapidly at low risk.
“Of the 213 projects that were submitted, a total of 78 projects are ongoing and the rest are new. The projects are distributed across the 25 ministries and provinces as follows, Bulawayo (37), Harare (65), Mashonaland Central (42), Mashonaland East (50), Mashonaland West (48), Masvingo (47), Manicaland (60), Midlands (54), Matabeleland North (58) and Matabeleland South (50),” said Dr Muswere.
He said some projects are replicated in more than one province while a total of 89 projects are derived from the resolutions of the Zanu- PF 21st National People’s Conference, adding that five are from the Binga Development Initiatives.
Minister Muswere said two of the projects are emanating from a Memoranda of Understanding, which Zimbabwe signed with the People’s Republic of China.
“Monitoring of the projects will be continuous and will include site visits, validation and the use of e-monitoring platforms such as the Executive Electronic Dashboard (EED), which is now linked to the Whole-of-Government Performance Management System.
“A performance report will be compiled at the end of the Cycle to highlight progress and share success stories,” said Dr Muswere.
