Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe in Lupane
ZANU-PF Matabeleland North provincial chairman Cde Richard Moyo says significant progress has been recorded on major capital projects across the province, with Government infrastructure development being complemented by economic empowerment programmes targeting women, youths and war veterans.
Speaking at the Zanu-PF Provincial Inter-District Conference in Lupane yesterday, Cde Moyo said road rehabilitation and construction projects were progressing despite challenges associated with delays in payments to contractors.
“On Government capital projects there is significant progress on rehabilitation and construction of road infrastructure although there are constant stoppages due to delays on payments to contractors a situation currently prevailing on Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road, Bulawayo-Nkayi Road as well as other roads constructed by the Government.
“The Lupane-Nkayi-Kwekwe road on PPP arrangement is progressing well,” he said.
Cde Moyo said the Presidential Emergency Road Rehabilitation Fund (ERRF) had enabled local authorities to rehabilitate feeder roads, although more work was required following extensive damage caused by incessant rains during the 2025/26 rainy season.
“The Presidential Emergency Road Rehabilitation Fund has helped local authorities rehabilitate some of the feeder roads although much more needs to be done because of the extent of damage exacerbated by incessant rains in 2025/2026 rain season.”
He said the Presidential Borehole Drilling Scheme was also transforming rural livelihoods by providing communities with potable water while creating opportunities for income generation through village business units.
Cde Moyo said work on the Gwayi-Shangani Dam had gathered pace following increased funding from Treasury.
“Progress on the construction of the Gwayi-Shangani Dam has accelerated through injection of constant funding of US$5 million every month from the Treasury thanks to our listing President Cde Mnangagwa,” he said.
Turning to economic empowerment, Cde Moyo said Zanu-PF programmes were fostering self-reliance among the party’s three wings — the Women’s League, Youth League and war veterans.
“The three wings of the Party benefited from the Presidential Empowerment Fund to engage on self-held projects.
“The youths bought three trucks and hired them to companies to generate income, they benefited from heifer schemes, residential stands from local authorities.
“The youths and war veterans received tractors under the Presidential Empowerment Fund.
“The women’s league is involved in income generating projects, garment making, detergents production, chicken hatcheries and farming.”
Cde Moyo also hailed the province’s performance in recent local authority by-elections, saying the victories demonstrated growing support for the ruling party’s policies and empowerment programmes.
“Another remarkable achievement by the province was victory in all local authorities’ by-elections held in the province. There were six by-elections held during the period under review, three in Tsholotsho and three in Victoria Falls.
“Out of these wards only one ward, ward 10 in Tsholotsho originally belonged to Zanu-PF while the rest were taken from the opposition CCP Party.”
Zanu-PF won Wards 1, 10 and 21 in Tsholotsho Rural District Council, while it swept the three contested wards — 9, 10 and 11 — in Victoria Falls, gaining additional representation in the city’s municipal council.
Cde Moyo said the victories should motivate party structures to intensify mobilisation and community engagement while ensuring that Government programmes continued to deliver tangible benefits to communities.
He urged party members in Hwange to prepare for the October 3 by-election for Ward 18, which covers Dete, following the death of councillor Stanley Torima in July.
“There are two pending by-elections, ward 18 Hwange RDC while the other is in ward 3 in Victoria Falls Municipality again following the recall of a councillor who had rejoined Zanu-PF Party.
“We hope to regain these two wards. The by-elections in these two wards will take place on 3 October 2026.”
Cde Moyo called for unity within party structures and intensified mobilisation ahead of the polls, building on the momentum from the recent victories.
Meanwhile, the conference considered and adopted resolutions consolidated from lower party structures.
The resolutions covered the state of the economy, food security and nutrition, social services, poverty eradication and wildlife protection, among other issues, before being adopted by the Provincial Inter-District Conference.
