Online Reporter
Christopher Magomo
The 2026 Mashonaland Central Provincial Investment Dialogue was held from June 4 to 5 under the theme “Accelerating Rural Industrialisation and Modernisation for Sustainable Growth in Mashonaland Central Province”.
The event came at a critical juncture as our province intensifies efforts to unlock its vast economic potential through strategic investments, value addition, rural industrialisation and infrastructure modernisation.
We were honoured by the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Professor Mthuli Ncube, as he graced the occasion.
His ministry continues to play a central role in creating an enabling macroeconomic and investment environment that supports provincial growth and inclusive development.
We were also honoured by the presence of ministers and representatives from key sectors such as Transport and Infrastructural Development; Industry and Commerce; Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development; and Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage.
Their ministries are integral to the achievement of our provincial and national development aspirations.
This investment dialogue came at a critical time when the Government, under the visionary leadership of President Mnangagwa, continues to advance the national development agenda anchored in Vision 2030, which seeks to transform Zimbabwe into an upper middle-income society.
The theme of this conference dovetailed with the aspirations of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which prioritises inclusive economic transformation, rural industrialisation, private sector-led growth, infrastructure development, innovation and modernisation as critical pillars towards the attainment of Vision 2030.
Mashonaland Central province stands ready to contribute meaningfully towards the national agenda by positioning itself as a competitive investment destination anchored in agro-industrialisation; mining value chains; infrastructure development; tourism promotion; renewable energy investments and innovation-driven rural enterprises.
Mashonaland Central province is endowed with fertile soils, favourable climatic conditions, abundant mineral resources, vast wildlife and scenic tourist attractions.
These natural advantages make the province one of the most promising investment destinations in Zimbabwe.
Yet, for many years, Mashonaland Central was regarded as one of the least industrialised provinces in the country despite its rich resource base.
However, under the leadership of President Mnangagwa and through the policies of the Second Republic, the province is rapidly transforming into one of Zimbabwe’s emerging economic giants.
Today, the province is witnessing increased investment interest, improved infrastructure development and growing economic activity across several sectors.
It has now firmly positioned itself as one of the major producers of maize, wheat, tobacco and other strategic crops in the country.
The agriculture sector continues to be the backbone of our provincial economy.
As of last year, the province recorded remarkable growth in agricultural production, with maize output increasing by 576 percent, wheat production rising by 7,5 percent, tobacco production growing by 4 percent and cotton production recording a massive 400 percent increase compared to the previous cropping season.
These achievements clearly demonstrate the resilience and hard work of our farmers as well as the positive impact of Government support programmes aimed at enhancing food security and agricultural productivity.
The livestock sector also registered positive growth, with beef production increasing by 9 percent, goat production by 33 percent and sheep production by 42 percent from the previous levels.
These statistics clearly show that Mashonaland Central province possesses enormous agricultural potential, capable of contributing significantly to national economic growth, food security and export earnings.
In terms of mineral production, the province is endowed with more than 27 known minerals that are largely underexploited.
These include various precious metals and strategic industrial minerals such as gold, platinum, chrome, nickel, manganese, cobalt, vanadium, granite, quartz and marble, which continue to attract increasing investor interest.
However, despite these impressive achievements, one major challenge remains.
Most of our agricultural produce and mineral resources continue to be exported or sold in raw form, with limited value addition and beneficiation taking place within the province.
As a result, our communities continue to lose opportunities for industrial growth, employment creation and wealth generation.
I am, therefore, inviting investors to partner with us in establishing agro-processing industries, manufacturing plants, mineral beneficiation facilities and other industrial enterprises that will add value to our local resources.
We envision a province where tobacco is processed locally into finished products, cotton is transformed into textiles, fruits and vegetables are processed into export-ready products and minerals are beneficiated within the province before export.
I strongly believe that this is the pathway towards sustainable industrialisation, employment creation and improved livelihoods for our people.
The commercial discovery of oil and gas in the Cabora Bassa Basin in Mbire and Muzarabani districts represents one of the most significant economic developments in the history of our province.
This discovery is expected to become a major game-changer in the economic transformation of Mashonaland Central province and Zimbabwe as a whole.
The oil and gas sector presents enormous opportunities for investment in energy production, petrochemical industries, transport infrastructure, housing development, logistics and support services.
Investors are, therefore, invited to invest in these oil and gas downstream industries to have a complete value chain in the sector.
Infrastructure development remains central to economic growth and investment attraction.
In this regard, the construction and upgrading of the Harare-Kanyemba road and its dualisation up to the Mazowe turn-off is a commendable initiative by the Second Republic.
The province applauds the Government for this strategic infrastructure project, which is expected to reduce the distance to Central Africa by more than 600 kilometres, thereby facilitating regional trade and economic integration.
This road project will also stimulate economic activities along the development corridor and unlock economic opportunities in districts such as Mbire, Muzarabani, Guruve and Mazowe.
As the Government, we are committed to creating a conducive environment for investment through transparency, policy consistency, institutional support and investor facilitation.
We recognise that sustainable economic development can only be achieved through strong partnerships between the Government, the private sector, communities and international stakeholders.
I, therefore, invite all investors from within Zimbabwe and beyond to explore the opportunities which were showcased during this conference and partner with Mashonaland Central province in unlocking sustainable growth and shared prosperity.
I wish to assure all investors that the province is open for business and ready to support productive investments that contribute towards economic growth, employment creation and community development.
Christopher Magomo is the Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland Central province. He made these remarks at the Mashonaland Central Provincial Investment Dialogue in Mazowe on June 5.
