Story by Tichaona Kurewa
THE Trans-Limpopo Spatial Development Initiative (TLSDI) is yielding significant results, as demonstrated by the inaugural Joint International Research Conference held in Victoria Falls this Thursday.
The collaborative event is organised by Bulawayo Polytechnic and the University of Venda from South Africa.
The TLSDI, initially proposed in 1998, culminated in a Memorandum of Understanding signed in March 2001 between South Africa’s Limpopo Province and the Matabeleland Region in Zimbabwe.
One of the key objectives of the TLSDI is to enhance the education sector within this corridor.
The two-day Joint International Research Conference marks a milestone in these efforts, aiming to leverage research to address critical challenges facing South Africa and Zimbabwe.
“It is now time to collaborate with institutions outside our borders so that we can contribute directly to the region’s workforce, proactively increasing our vocational, technical and professional programmes to accommodate the developmental needs of our communities. In an increasingly interconnected world, the importance of partnerships cannot be overstated. These partnerships are the bedrock upon which we can build resilient, inclusive, and sustainable communities,” University of Venda’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Ndanduleni Bernard Nthambeleni said.
“Through our unity of purpose, complementary and intertwined strategies, we are determined to realise rapid socio-economic development and a higher quality of life in our countries and region that leave no one and no place behind. This is in line with targets of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which include transformation and enhancing overall productivity for the growth and industrialisation of African economies,” Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development’s chief director, Professor Norman Takaidza said.
The TLSDI aims to establish a robust economic corridor stretching from Limpopo Province in South Africa to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, fostering trade and economic development along the corridor.
The initiative has also facilitated twinning agreements between municipalities in Limpopo and the Matabeleland Region.
The conference has drawn experts, scholars and practitioners from different countries, fostering collaboration and driving innovation.
