Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
MATABELELAND South Province is targeting an average 7,5 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate per annum under its revised five-year provincial economic development plan which is anchored on the attainment of Vision 2030.
The province recently engaged in an exercise to review its 2021-2025 provincial economic development plan.
In a statement, Permanent Secretary for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mrs Latiso Dlamini-Maseko said the development plan is a roadmap for the province to ensure enhanced service delivery and economic development for the province.
“The provincial economic development plan will strive to steer the provincial economy onto a path to realise an average of a 7,5 percent GDP growth rate per annum over the remaining plan period,” she said.
“In our pursuit for sustainable and inclusive economic growth, we remain cognisant to the challenges that the nation continues to face on the external front, hence the emphasis on mobilising internal sources for sustainable growth.”
Mrs Dlamini-Maseko said the realisation of Vision 2030 depends on the actions and measures that the Government, private sector, civil society and individuals undertake through short and medium-term plans.
“The provincial economic development plan, together with National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) will surely leverage Matabeleland South’s competitive advantages particularly with regards to the configuration of our natural resource endowments, our excellent ecological endowments and our skills base,” she said.
According to the development plan, the province’s expected increase in its GDP over the planned period is anchored on agricultural production and productivity, particularly by smallholder farmers to ensure food and nutrition security, enhanced income, increased opportunities for value addition and the development of agro-business value chains.
It is also anchored on enhancing investment in mining towards exploration, beneficiation and value addition of minerals.
Key economic drivers in the province are agriculture, hunting, forestry, mining and quarrying, wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles.
“The 2021-2025 provincial economic development plan for Matabeleland South is premised on adoption and swift implementation of bold policies and programmes aimed at achieving economic transformation through the creation of a thriving private-sector led, open and competitive economy and a business-friendly environment,” said Mrs Dlamini-Maseko.
She said the abundance in natural resources and rich livestock gives the province a competitive advantage.
According to the provincial economic developmental plan, inadequate and well-maintained infrastructure is pivotal in supporting and enabling the growth of any economy.
“The infrastructure and utilities in Matabeleland South are inadequate and have deteriorated to the extent that some no longer provide any service. This has been due to irregular maintenance, high skilled staff turnover, low investment in infrastructural development and vandalism, with the worst affected being areas in the periphery,” read the document.
The plan priorities have been identified as sustainable inclusive economic growth, food security and nutrition, devolution and governance, human capital development, infrastructure, utilities and digital economy, housing delivery and health and social protection.
“Implementation of programmes, policies and interventions to realise these priorities will transform the Matabeleland South economy from a natural resource economy to knowledge driven economy. This will also move the country from a lower middle-income society towards an upper middle-income society by 2030,” reads the development plan.
“Cross-cutting issues such as gender, youth, people living with disabilities, arts and creative industry, environment and information communication technology will be mainstreamed in all thematic working programmes. This will ensure that the provincial aspirations are realised within the context of NDS1.”
The provincial economic development plan is aimed at achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth, sustain inclusive and equitable real GDP growth at an average of 7,5 percent and promote rural industrialisation, new enterprise development, employment and job creation.
The development plan also seeks to strengthen social infrastructure and social safety nets, ensure sustainable environmental protection and resilience, promote good governance and corporate social investment and to modernise the economy through use of ICT and digital technology. —@DubeMatutu
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