Story by Providence Maraneli
MATABELELAND South is gearing up to capitalise on the upcoming Southern African Development Community (SADC) Industrialisation Week scheduled for later this month by positioning the province as a potential investment destination.
For a province which is home to five major ports of entry in the country and being the gateway to Sub-Saharan Africa through the recently modernised Beitbridge Border Post, the SADC Industrialisation Week presents opportunities for Matabeleland South province to position itself as an investment destination.
Boasting of abundant base-mineral resources like lithium, diamonds, iron and gold, the province is also targeting to attract investors in the agriculture sector.
“This is an opportunity for us as Matabeleland South to position ourselves as an investment destination. We have Beitbridge border post which is one of the biggest ports of entry in Sub-Saharan Africa. This would make us a strategic investment destination. We have quite a number of minerals and we are going to market those. There is a lot that we are going to get from this conference in terms of development. It is a time really to shine as Mat South province,” said the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Evelyn Ndlovu.
Matabeleland North province will also take advantage of the SADC Industrialisation Week to showcase major achievements recorded under the Second Republic.
She added, “We have seen amazing development under the Second Republic, we have seen massive infrastructure development with Beitbridge border post being the flagship project. We are currently undergoing the rehabilitation of Beitbridge -Victoria Falls road. We have achieved a lot through devolution, clinics, classroom block, laboratories and we attribute this to the Second Republic. His excellence President Mnangagwa has done a tremendous job.”
The SADC Industrialisation Week will be held from the 28th of July to the 2nd of August and is expected to attract regional delegates, captains of industry, government officials and potential investors.
The Industrialisation Week will precede the SADC Heads of State and Government Summit in August.
