Sidumisile MabenaSikhumbuzo Moyo
[email protected]
BULAWAYO’S strategic position as Zimbabwe’s industrial and commercial hub makes it a critical player in the country’s transport and logistics system, Minister of State for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Judith Ncube, has said.
The Minister’s remarks were delivered on her behalf by Mr Martin Gwari during the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development’s Mid-Term Strategic Planning Workshop held in Bulawayo.
The workshop brought together ministry leadership and representatives from State-owned enterprises to review progress made during the first half of the year and map the way forward for the remainder of 2026.
Minister Ncube said the gathering provided an important platform for the transport sector to evaluate achievements, identify challenges and establish priorities that would accelerate the attainment of national development goals.
“As you undertake a mid-term review and plan for the next phase, this gathering provides an opportunity to take stock of what has been achieved so far, identify challenges and set clear priorities that will ensure effective implementation of national and sectoral development objectives,” she said.
She described the transport sector as a key pillar of national transformation, given its role in facilitating trade and industrial growth, improving access to services, creating employment opportunities and strengthening regional and international connectivity.
“More than that, the transport sector is a key enabler of economic activity, linking communities to markets and people to opportunities. Therefore, the deliberations you are undertaking on planning, coordination, performance management and service delivery are not only important, they are transformative,” said Minister Ncube.
She said Bulawayo’s position as a major industrial and commercial centre meant that the efficiency of its transport infrastructure had a direct impact on productivity and economic performance.
Minister Ncube urged the ministry and participating State-owned enterprises to focus on practical outcomes, particularly in service delivery, infrastructure maintenance, coordination across the transport value chain, results-based planning and accountability, digital transformation, institutional strengthening and customer-centred transport systems.
She said maintaining infrastructure at reliable standards was essential to ensuring that transport facilities remained safe, efficient and dependable.
The Minister also called for stronger collaboration among institutions within the sector to eliminate duplication of efforts, address implementation gaps and improve turnaround times.
On digital transformation, she stressed the importance of modernising planning, monitoring, reporting and public communication systems to support evidence-based decision-making and enhance operational efficiency.
Minister Ncube further underscored the need to invest in human capital through skills development, professionalism and operational discipline to improve performance across the transport sector.
“The mid-term plan requires every institution to clearly understand its contribution to the sector’s overall objectives and to work in an integrated manner with other actors, including local authorities and regional stakeholders,” she said.
She expressed confidence that the workshop would produce practical recommendations capable of translating into improved service delivery, enhanced operational capacity and tangible benefits for citizens.
The workshop forms part of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development’s efforts to assess progress on key targets and align programmes with national development priorities as the country advances towards Vision 2030.
