Online Reporter
Sikhulekelani Moyo, Zimpapers Writer
MATABELELAND North Province has issued investment licences worth more than US$2,6 billion in the first five months of 2025, as it positions itself as a regional hub for value addition across various sectors, including agro-processing and mineral beneficiation.
To further accelerate business growth, the province is set to host a premier investment conference from July 11 to 12 in Umguza, where presentations on investment opportunities will be delivered.
Briefing journalists on Tuesday about the upcoming conference, Matabeleland North Permanent Secretary Ms Sithandiwe Ncube — represented by the Provincial Director for Economic Affairs and Investment Promotion in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Mr Godfrey Mkwakwami — highlighted the province’s wealth of underutilised resources.
She noted that Matabeleland North has over two million hectares of arable land, with irrigation potential enhanced by the near-completion of Lake Gwayi-Shangani. On the tourism front, the province is home to Hwange National Park (the largest in Zimbabwe), Victoria Falls, and emerging eco-tourism routes in Binga, Lupane, and Umguza.
The province also boasts a viable mining economy, contributing over 10 percent of Zimbabwe’s coal and gas output, and is endowed with lithium, gold, and rare earth minerals.
In terms of energy, Matabeleland North has the potential to generate over 3 000 MW through solar, hydro, and methane gas sources.
“Our vision, anchored on the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and Vision 2030, is to transform Matabeleland North into a competitive and industrialised province. Investment is central to this goal. We are positioning the province as a regional hub for agro-processing, tourism, renewable energy, and mining value chains.
“In the first five months, according to the Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency (Zida), licences worth US$2,641 billion were issued, which shows that the province is attractive to investors who are seeing the benefits of investing here,” said Ms Ncube.
Running under the theme “Driving Socio-Economic Growth Through Strategic Investments in Infrastructure and Value Addition”, the upcoming investment conference aims to stimulate socio-economic development through targeted investments in infrastructure and value chains.
Ms Ncube said the theme was chosen in recognition of the province’s significant infrastructure gap compared to other regions.
She explained that inadequate infrastructure hampers investment, hence the need to attract investors willing to fund general infrastructure development to unlock further opportunities and enhance value addition.
“Most of the investments we’ve received so far have been in the extractive sector, which is positive, but we want to go further and focus on value addition, because we know employment is created through value addition.
“We don’t want a situation where we mine and export unprocessed raw materials. Our focus is on attracting investment in the processing of agricultural and mineral resources. Under devolution, over ZWG$4,2 billion has been disbursed to Matabeleland North since the launch of the programme in 2019 to support infrastructure, public services, and local enterprise development — all aimed at enhancing investor confidence and readiness,” she said.
However, Ms Ncube noted that Government alone cannot meet all the province’s infrastructure needs.
She stressed the importance of attracting investment in all forms — whether direct or through public-private partnerships — to bridge the infrastructure gap.
The Matabeleland North Provincial Investment Conference will be held in Umguza, strategically located on the outskirts of Bulawayo, to promote investment in the district.
Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, will be the guest speaker, alongside a line-up of other speakers who will engage with potential investors during the two-day event.
Meanwhile, the province is also experiencing growth in smallholder irrigation schemes, now covering over 4 500 hectares. The launch of the Bubi-Lupane Irrigation Greenbelt programme further supports these initiatives.
The province has also launched the Matabeleland North Investment Handbook, profiling over 60 bankable projects across various sectors. To promote ease of doing business, a Provincial Investment Strategy Committee has been established to streamline inter-agency approvals and facilitate investor engagement with local authorities and traditional leaders. Environmental assessments, land access, and community engagement processes have also been expedited.
Additionally, the province is working with Zida and local authorities to develop investment-ready land banks.
