Months later, Maphisa continues to reap development rewards

MOST communities that host Zimbabwe’s Independence celebrations enjoy a brief moment in the national spotlight before life gradually returns to normal. In Maphisa, Matobo District, Independence 2026 marked the beginning of a transformation whose impact is still being felt today.

Months after the crowds dispersed and the national flag was lowered, the impact of hosting the country’s premier national event remains visible across the district. New classrooms have risen from the ground, hospitals have been upgraded, roads are being improved and community facilities continue to take shape.

What was once a single day of celebration has evolved into a development story that residents believe will benefit generations to come.

At the centre of this transformation is the stadium that hosted the 46th Independence celebrations.

Far from being left behind after the national event, the facility continues to receive improvements.

Workers are installing additional bucket seats as part of ongoing upgrades aimed at bringing the venue closer to professional sporting standards.

For local residents, these developments are proof that the benefits of hosting Independence did not end when the celebrations were over.

The changes are perhaps most striking in the education sector, where Mahetshe Secondary School has undergone a remarkable transformation.

Only a few years ago, the school was a relatively small rural institution with just two classroom blocks and slightly more than 100 pupils. Today, it presents a completely different picture.

Through the Independence Legacy Project, the school received six new classroom blocks, science laboratories, computer facilities, a computer laboratory, teachers’ cottages, staff ablution facilities and an administration block.

The improvements have not only changed the school’s appearance but have also raised hopes among learners who now believe they can compete with pupils from better-resourced schools.

One of them is pupil Mthandazo Ncube, who said the new facilities have dramatically improved learning opportunities.

“Now we can compete with A-Level schools because we have facilities that can transform and boost our education. Back then we were a laughing stock, but now everyone wants to be enrolled at our school. Hosting Independence was surely a benefit for us,” he said.

For many parents and community members, the school has become one of the clearest examples of how national events can leave lasting benefits long after the celebrations have ended.

The spirit of transformation can also be felt at the stadium, where residents now speak confidently about attracting major sporting events to the area.

Among those celebrating the changes is war veteran Cde Mostaff Sibanda, who believes the upgraded facility opens new possibilities for Maphisa.

“We can now host professional football games on our home turf, thanks to President Mnangagwa’s Legacy Projects.

“When we hosted Independence, there were only a few bucket seats, but now we are seeing more being installed at our stadium.

“We are truly grateful that after Independence these projects were never neglected.”
For Cde Sibanda, the benefits extend beyond sport.

He is among beneficiaries of the Presidential War Veterans Housing Scheme, a project developed in

Maphisa under the broader Independence legacy programme.

The housing project has provided decent accommodation to several beneficiaries while contributing to the modernisation of the district centre.

Reflecting on the changes, Cde Sibanda said the impact on local livelihoods has been significant.

“Now I have a decent home thanks to hosting Independence in our province and district, which gave birth to the iconic Father Zimbabwe, uMdala Wethu Joshua Nkomo.

“We are seeing development in our area. Mahetshe Secondary School is now like a completely different institution,” he said.

Beyond schools and housing, major investments have also been made in healthcare.

The Government rehabilitated and completed both Kezi Hospital and Maphisa District Hospital, improving access to medical services for thousands of people in Matabeleland South.

For decades, residents in some parts of the province faced challenges accessing quality healthcare, often travelling long distances for treatment.

The upgraded facilities are expected to ease that burden while improving service delivery in the district.

Skills development has also received a major boost through the construction of the Joshua

Mqabuko Nkomo Vocational Training Centre.

The institution is expected to equip young people with practical skills that can help them find employment or start their own businesses.

At a time when youth empowerment remains a national priority, local leaders believe the centre will play an important role in creating opportunities for communities across the province.

Another project that is drawing attention is the Isizinda Culture Centre.

The facility is emerging as an important hub for cultural preservation and community engagement.

It provides a space where people can celebrate their traditions, preserve their heritage and pass valuable cultural knowledge from one generation to another.

In a rapidly modernising world, many residents view the centre as a vital bridge between the past and the future.

One of the most significant developments has been the revival of health training in the district.

For nearly two decades, the Maphisa Nursing School remained inactive, having last enrolled students in early 2006.

This year, however, the institution welcomed a new intake after learning facilities were rehabilitated under the Independence Legacy Projects.

The reopening is expected to increase the number of trained healthcare personnel while creating educational opportunities for aspiring nurses from the province and beyond.

During a recent tour of the projects, Vice President Dr Colonel (Rtd) Kembo Mohadi reassured residents that Government remained committed to completing all outstanding work.

“The Independence celebrations brought a lot of development to this province, with several projects lined up. We are the ones who started these projects, and they will be completed.

“We should be patient, but we will complete them. The Government does not start something and not complete it,” he said.

The Vice President also highlighted progress being made on road infrastructure, which remains critical to economic growth and service delivery.

“We had a few problems with roads in terms of funding, but I think we now have a solution to that problem. You have to remember that we don’t do this for Matabeleland South only. The plan is to do this in every province where we hold our Independence celebrations.”

His remarks underscore the broader vision behind the Independence legacy programme, which seeks to ensure that host provinces derive long-term developmental benefits from staging the national event.

Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Albert Nguluvhe has also welcomed the projects, saying the benefits are being felt across the province.

Indeed, Maphisa’s transformation is only one part of a much larger story unfolding across Matabeleland South.

The Government is constructing 40 science laboratories across the province, while major road rehabilitation projects are underway on the Gwanda-Maphisa, Bulawayo-Kezi and Plumtree-

Maitengwe routes. The construction of the Filabusi Civil Registry office is another development expected to improve access to public services.

Together, these projects are reshaping communities and laying the foundation for future growth.

For the people of Maphisa, the legacy of Independence 2026 is no longer measured by the excitement of a single celebration or the memories captured on that historic day.

Instead, it is reflected in modern classrooms where children learn, hospitals where patients receive treatment, roads that connect communities and homes that provide families with dignity and security.

The true legacy of Independence in Maphisa is not what happened on one day. It is what continues to happen every day afterwards.

And as new projects continue to take shape, residents are hopeful that the transformation sparked by Independence 2026 will leave a lasting imprint on Matobo District and on generations yet to come.