Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau
MIDLANDS Province is targeting deeper mineral beneficiation, climate-smart agriculture, industrialisation and infrastructure investment as it seeks to turn its abundant natural resources into jobs, businesses and shared prosperity as part of the ingredients for an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
The shift is at the centre of the province’s 2026-2030 Provincial Economic Development Plan (PEDP 2), which seeks to build on investments delivered under the first provincial plan while placing greater emphasis on value addition, technology transfer, employment creation and strengthening local industries.
Speaking during the recent Midlands PEDP 2 consultative workshop, Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Owen Ncube said the new blueprint would align provincial priorities with the Second National Development Strategy (NDS 2) and build on gains recorded under the Transitional Stabilisation Programme and the first National Development Strategy.
He said PEDP 2 would focus on transforming the province’s natural resources into industrial capacity, employment and improved livelihoods.
“The future of the Midlands Province will not be determined only by the resources we possess. It will be determined by how effectively we organise, invest, innovate and work together to transform those resources into shared prosperity,” said Minister Ncube.
He said the consultations provided an opportunity for stakeholders to assess the province’s performance, identify development gaps and establish measurable targets and responsibilities for the next five years.
“The plan will focus on economic stability, infrastructure modernisation, broad-based empowerment, digitalisation, improved service delivery and strengthened social protection,” said Minister Ncube.
He said Midlands had remained resilient despite climate-induced shocks, structural constraints and global economic disruptions, with public-private partnerships and private-sector investment driving development across key sectors.
Major projects delivered under PEDP 1 include Chahwanda Stadium and the Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Law School in Kwekwe, the 43-kilometre Shurugwi-Mhandamabwe Road, Ngungumbane-Mataga Road and the 50MW Din-son Thermal Power Plant.
Other projects include the Midlands Park Housing Scheme in Zvishavane, Zhong Jin International Hotel in Kwekwe, re-furbishment of Zimchem Refiners, construction of the Livetouch Clinker Plant in Mberengwa, e-passport centres in Gokwe South and Zvishavane, Kwekwe GMB Smart Silos and the development and rehabilitation of irrigation schemes and other devolution-funded projects.
Minister Ncube said the projects had strengthened the province’s infrastructure base while creating platforms for fur-ther investment and economic activity.
He said Midlands accounted for 12 percent of national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2024, ranking first among the country’s rural provinces in terms of GDP.
The province had also surpassed its second-quarter 2026 real GDP growth target of seven percent, reflecting continued economic activity across various sectors, he said.
“The mining sector remains a major driver of the provincial economy, with production of gold, lithium, chrome, coal, antimony and limestone increasing on the back of growing demand from companies including Dinson, Zheli Lithium, Livetouch, Global union Alloy and Sino Cement,” said Minister Ncube.
However, he noted that the province now needed to move beyond mineral extraction towards greater beneficiation and industrialisation.
“The fundamental question for PEDP 2 remains how to ensure minerals extracted from Midlands generate progressively greater value, employment, technology transfer and industrial capacity within the province,” said Minister Ncube.
He said this would require stronger value addition and beneficiation in line with NDS 2 priorities on inclusive economic growth, structural transformation, regional development, job creation, youth entrepreneurship, science and technology and human capital development.
Agriculture also recorded significant gains during PEDP 1, with wheat production reaching an estimated 59 000 tonnes by 2025.
The dairy sector similarly expanded, with raw milk production rising from 18 million litres in 2021 to 26 million litres in 2025, surpassing the 2025 target of 25 million litres.
Minister Ncube said projected 2026/27 “super El Niño” weather conditions required a fundamental shift in agricultural planning.
He called for greater integration of renewable energy, digital agricultural extension services, financial inclusion, agro-processing, market access and climate-smart farming.
Social protection programmes, including Harmonised Cash Transfers and drought relief, would also
have to be strength-ened to cushion vulnerable communities from climate-related shocks, he said.
“The success of PEDP 2 would depend on collaboration among Government, the private sector, traditional leaders, farmers, miners, churches, development partners, universities and colleges and communities,” said Minister Ncube.
He also highlighted the province’s multi-sectoral response to drug and substance abuse, saying 78 drug bases had been dismantled, 595 arrests effected and large consignments of drugs confiscated.
The minister cited the recovery of 279kg of dagga at a Mvuma roadblock on September 5 as one of the major seizures.
He said PEDP 2 ultimately sought to ensure that development gains translated into tangible improvements in the lives of people across the province.
“The plan will also reinforce the Government’s devolution agenda by localising development planning, strengthening service delivery and ensuring that provincial priorities are aligned with national development targets towards an upper-middle-income society by 2030,” said Minister Ncube.
