Sikhulekelani Moyo [email protected]
MATABELELAND North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Richard Moyo has invited Chinese investors to explore business opportunities in the province, particularly in solar energy, mining beneficiation, agriculture and tourism.
Minister Moyo was speaking at the Zimbabwe-China Business Forum held on the sidelines of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), which is underway in Shanghai.
“We are here in China Business Forum with the Chinese investors who are willing to come and invest in Zimbabwe. And in Matabeleland North we have got a number of investment opportunities, like in Victoria Falls, we have got our economic zone,” said Minister Moyo.
He said the province, which includes districts such as Binga, Hwange, Lupane, Umguza, Nkayi and Tsholotsho, was endowed with abundant sunshine, making it suitable for large-scale solar power projects.
“You know that in Zimbabwe we have got enough sun, so we are looking for investors who can come and set up plants, solar plants for energy, and Matabeleland North is an energy province, and so we are inviting them to come in the mining sector,” he said.
Minister Moyo said Matabeleland North was rich in minerals, including lithium, gold and coal, and the Government was encouraging investors to establish processing industries rather than export raw materials.
“We are inviting them to come in the mining sector, to come and mine and also to put up effects for beneficiation, like minerals like lithium, gold, we have got coal, so that they can do fertilizer from coal, and also to beneficiate the lithium,” he said.
He said establishing a large-scale solar plant would be a major milestone for the province and help support the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA).
“If we can have a big solar plant, it will be a milestone for Matabeleland North, so that we do the power energy, we help our company ZESA, because we have got a grid already in the province, so we are looking for more investors to come and invest in solar plants,” said Minister Moyo.
The Minister also highlighted opportunities in agriculture and tourism, particularly in Victoria Falls, which hosts a Special Economic Zone.
“We are doing agriculture in Matabeleland North, also tourism, we are looking for more five-star hotels and other facilities for tourism in the province. And so, we have got many opportunities for investment from the Chinese investors who might want to come and invest in our province of Matabeleland North,” he said.
Minister Moyo echoed President Mnangagwa’s mantra that Zimbabwe was open for business, saying Matabeleland North was also seeking to attract more investors.
“And the mantra of His Excellency is that we are open for business, and also us in Matabeleland North, we are really open for business. We are looking for more investors from this province, to come and invest in our province of Matabeleland North,” he said.
Zimbabwe is participating at the China International Import Expo as it seeks to attract foreign direct investment and boost exports to the Chinese market, with provincial leaders using the platform to market investment opportunities in their respective regions.
