Story by Mercy Bofu-Matinha
MASVINGO Province is positioning itself as a prime investment destination, with stakeholders identifying public-private partnerships as a critical vehicle for accelerating economic growth and sustainable development.
This emerged at the Masvingo Business Showcase, which brought together businesses, investors and captains of industry to explore collaboration opportunities, attract investment and unlock the province’s vast potential in various sectors of the economy.
The three-day business showcase provided a platform for networking, knowledge sharing and marketing, with exhibitors drawn from various sectors including agriculture, mining, tourism, education and infrastructure development.
Some of the exhibitors who spoke to ZBC News said the showcase was instrumental in increasing the visibility of their brands and creating opportunities to engage potential clients and investors.
“We are happy to be part of the showcase as the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange. We managed to interact with several companies, potential businesses and a number of entrepreneurs who were at the event. We also interacted with other private players as well as policy makers, and it was very beneficial to us,” trading officer at the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, Mr Takudzwa Zhou said.
Broadhaven Construction Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Munyaradzi Majoni, said the event provided useful insights into the province’s investment climate and reinforced the company’s interest in expanding its footprint in Masvingo.
“We managed to understand what the investment climate is like in Masvingo Province, but we had already made a strategic decision to come into construction with our technologies because we have got buildings that we have a major interest in, especially in student accommodation, small malls in the city.”
“As Save Valley Conservancy, we found that this was an organised event to showcase the provincial owners of Masvingo in my interest, particularly the tourism sector and other sectors. We used the event to showcase innovative products and services while creating new business linkages aimed at unlocking economic opportunities in the province.”
Organisers of the showcase described the event as a strategic platform meant to connect businesses, investors and policymakers while highlighting the province’s vast economic potential.
“We came up with this event to create an avenue for stakeholders to exchange ideas and identify areas of collaboration that can contribute to economic growth and sustainable development in Masvingo Province. We had nearly 50 exhibitors participating, and we are happy with the response we got from the government in terms of supporting us,” Elite Experiences and Escapes’ Chief Executive Officer, Ms Tafadzwa Fugede said.
The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Ezra Chadzamira, said collaboration between government and the private sector remains critical in driving investment and achieving the province’s development aspirations.
“The attainment of provincial economic aspirations will require deliberate investment in productive sectors, infrastructure development, innovation, skills development and strong partnerships across all sectors of society. Innovation remains central to competitiveness in today’s global economy. We must therefore encourage our entrepreneurs, innovators, researchers and institutions of higher learning to collaborate in developing solutions that improve productivity, create value and unlock new economic opportunities. Equally important is the pursuit of sustainable growth.”
Masvingo Province remains one of the country’s strategic economic hubs, boasting significant opportunities in agriculture, tourism, mining, education and infrastructure development.
