Online Reporter
Robin Muchetu
Health and Gender Editor
THE massive infrastructure development taking place in Matabeleland South province ahead of the 46th Independence Day celebrations is setting the tone for the diaspora to invest in the province following the marked improvements and opportunities for economic development that have taken place.
The celebrations are set for Matobo, and the Government has already initiated several projects across the district that are giving the province a facelift and making it a more attractive destination for investment by Zimbabweans living in the diaspora.
Host Member of Parliament for Matobo constituency Cde Edgar Moyo thanked President Mnangagwa for his visionary leadership that has led to the decentralisation of national events to all provinces in a bid to leave no one and no place behind.
This, he said, was a catalyst for development and investment by those who left the province and were based in the diaspora.
“There are many people who wish to return to Zimbabwe from the diaspora. Take note that our economy is growing; this year, we are at about 6.6 percent growth,” he said.
“In other places, they are not experiencing such growth, which means that opportunities are growing in Zimbabwe that are not in some countries where our locals are based.
“The development of electricity infrastructure, electrifying communities that never had power to enable them to venture into entrepreneurship and village business units, is a plus for us.
‘‘More is now being done in rural communities that are generating a lot of money for the growth of the economy.”
He said some Zimbabweans left for the diaspora seeking employment and education opportunities, but these have been provided locally following the development of training schools at the district level.
“Now we are speaking of a nurse training school being opened in Maphisa; those who did not know where to get training locally can now get an opportunity locally. Those who had left can now return to Zimbabwe and get trained here,” he said.
Cde Moyo said the Second Republic was commended for the sterling job it has done to entice Zimbabweans living in neighbouring countries like South Africa and Botswana to migrate back to reinvest in the country.
“I see this is as a wise move, as this development happening in the province will lure back Zimbabweans to further invest and develop the province,” he said.
“We urge them to return and rebuild their country. Look at Matobo, some of the homesteads built by locals resemble those found in affluent suburbs like Borrowdale in Harare. This is what we want.
“We have others who are local who are also developing locally, and are in the mining industry. Matobo is a mining district, they are building amazing houses, growing large herds of cattle, some are into agriculture.
“Opportunities are opening and we encourage our brothers and sisters to return home and build the country together, ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo.”
Cde Moyo said the shift in the hosting of national events to the rest of the country was yielding fruit.
“We saw this first with Independence Day celebrations; they moved from the traditional Harare to Bulawayo, Mashonaland Central, Manicaland, Midlands and now we are in Matabeleland South,” he said.
“I am happy that my district and constituency are hosting this year’s Independence Day celebrations. The impact is big. Legacy projects include road rehabilitation, clinics, hospitals, access to water and many more.
“The machinery that is currently in Matobo is massive, and it is doing the work. The people are happy, they are eagerly waiting for the celebrations, and they are seeing that the President is a man of his word, no place is being left behind.”
Post-independence, many projects will still be going on, he emphasised.
“We may not finish all legacy projects that have been implemented in the province in time for the celebrations,” he said. “Look at the roads, it is not an overnight job, and they cannot all be completed, but the Government said post-Independence Day celebrations, they will continue on the rehabilitation drive until they are all complete.”
Cde Moyo said communities will benefit from rehabilitated health care centres in the district.
“Looking at Matobo district, we now have the Nurse Training School that is situated at Maphisa District Hospital, which is 90 percent complete and is set to open in September for the first intake,” he said.
“It is pleasing that with the coming of Independence, our children now have a training school.”
He said the vocational training centre (VTC) located in Nyongolo village, Kezi, the home of the late former Vice President, Cde Joshua Nyongolo Nkomo, was another milestone worth recognising owing to the contributions of the late VP.
“Government is building a big VTC that will take 2 000 students at any given time and will enable locals to gain skills and be entrepreneurs and further employ other locals,” he said.
He praised the Government for distributing development works ahead of Independence Day celebrations across the province and not only limited to Matobo district.
