Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, Victoria Falls Reporter
MATABELELAND NORTH is positioning itself as a key investment hub through the development of major projects across tourism and hospitality, infrastructure, renewable energy, transport and logistics, as well as agriculture and value addition — presenting significant opportunities for investors and partnerships.
Speaking during the official opening of the 5th African Public Procurement Network (APPN) General Assembly in Victoria Falls on Wednesday, Minister of State for Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Richard Moyo, said the success of these ambitious projects depends on efficient and transparent public procurement systems.
“The success of these projects hinges entirely on the ability to procure with integrity, with innovation, and with an unwavering focus on value for money,” said Minister Moyo.
He said Matabeleland North is emerging as a strategic hub, leveraging its unique natural and geographic advantages to build a dynamic and diversified economy.
Aligning with the APPN theme, “Transforming Public Procurement through Innovation, Inclusion, Sustainability and
Regional Collaboration,” Minister Moyo said the province is seeing rising demand for world-class conference facilities, eco-lodges and recreational centres.
“These are not just construction projects, but opportunities for sustainable development that create jobs and empower local communities,” he said.
The minister said with its abundant sunshine, the province is also being primed as a key renewable energy hub, particularly for solar power generation.
He said procuring the right partners for solar power plants is crucial for the country’s national energy security and demonstrates the Government’s commitment to sustainability.
Recognising the province’s role as a gateway to neighbouring countries, Minister Moyo highlighted ongoing developments in transport and logistics, including the upgrading of road networks and border post facilities.
“Efficient procurement in this sector is the lifeblood of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), enabling smoother regional trade and collaboration,” he said.
Minister Moyo also noted that the province’s vast tracts of land hold potential for large-scale irrigation and agro-processing, with a focus on inclusive participation.
“Public procurement can be a catalyst for inclusion, ensuring our smallholder farmers and local entrepreneurs are integrated into the value chains,” he said.
Minister Moyo assured delegates that Zimbabwe — and Matabeleland North in particular — is committed to creating an environment where procurement becomes a bridge to a more prosperous, equitable and sustainable future.
“The outcomes of this assembly are directly linked to the roads we will build, the power we will generate, and the opportunities we will create for our people right here in Matabeleland North, in Zimbabwe and across the continent,” he said.
The three-day APPN General Assembly, which ends tomorrow, has brought together senior Government officials, procurement regulators and experts from across Africa to share best practices aimed at reforming public procurement systems to drive continental development.
