Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba [email protected]
WORK on a US$4,7 million state-of-the-art shopping mall at Gokwe Centre in the Midlands Province has commenced, marking a major milestone in the town’s development and raising expectations of increased investment, job creation and improved access to essential services for residents.
The project, which is being undertaken by the Mining Industry Pension Fund (MIPF), forms part of the Government’s broader infrastructure development programme and aligns with the National
Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which seeks to drive economic growth, modernise communities and improve the quality of life across the country.
Once completed, the shopping mall is expected to significantly reduce the need for residents to travel to Kwekwe to access retail and other services, while also creating formal business space for established companies and small to medium enterprises.
Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Owen Ncube, who recently toured the construction site, said the investment reflected Government’s commitment to decentralising development and ensuring that communities outside major urban centres also benefit from modern infrastructure.
He said the mall was expected to boost investor confidence in Gokwe South while strengthening the local authority’s revenue-generating capacity.
“This demonstrates the New Dispensation’s desire to bring services closer to the people and commitment towards the creation of a conducive business and investment climate under the able and visionary leadership of His Excellency, President Mnangagwa,” he said.
Minister Ncube said the project also advances Government’s vision of inclusive development, where all communities share in the country’s economic progress and growth.
“The project is also in line with the Government’s transformation, modernisation and industrialisation agenda under the mantra ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo’,” he said.
The shopping mall is expected to provide businesses with a modern trading environment while improving access to goods and services for residents of Gokwe and surrounding areas.
Residents have welcomed the development, describing it as a long-awaited investment that has the potential to reshape the commercial landscape of Gokwe Centre and stimulate economic activity in the district.
Mrs Mercy Ndlovu, a trader at Gokwe Centre, said the community had long been in need of modern commercial infrastructure.
“It is a massive, modern project that brings services closer to the people. We want to thank our Government for bringing development to us. This will certainly transform Gokwe and we are happy,” she said.
Mr Brighton Moyo said the project was already creating opportunities for local people, particularly young residents who had secured employment during the construction phase.
“We now have access to modern shops and services locally, which also means more employment opportunities. Our children got jobs here during construction. This mall will also play a crucial role in giving us critical services without travelling to Kwekwe,” he said.
Beyond improving access to retail services, the development is expected to generate broader economic benefits through increased business activity, additional employment opportunities and expanded commercial space, positioning Gokwe for further growth and investment in the years ahead.
