Story by Providence Maraneli
MATABELELAND South Province continues to register significant progress in its rural industrialisation drive, with more than 300 Village Business Units (VBUs) already established as the Second Republic accelerates the implementation of Vision 2030.
The initiative, which aims to build an empowered, industrialised upper-middle-income society, is being driven through close collaboration between government departments and ZANU PF provincial structures, underscoring the success of devolved, people-centred governance.
These developments were highlighted during a joint Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) and Provincial Development Committee (PDC) meeting held in Gwanda over the weekend, where stakeholders reviewed milestones in agriculture, mining, and infrastructure development.
“We have already established 345 Village Business Units across the province. We are continuing to drill more boreholes. It is unfortunate that in other areas we fail to get water, but we are forging ahead,” Agritex Deputy Director, Mr Bhekilizwe Ncube said.
Participants reviewed key milestones in gold production and devolution projects, celebrating provincial success stories.
“The period under review, that is 2017–25, we managed to contribute 25 tonnes of gold as a province, and I would say we are doing well even in our other minerals like lithium and limestone,” Acting Provincial Mining Director, Mr Chancellor Chidziva noted.
“Of the 139 devolution projects in the province, we have already completed 60 and 79 are ongoing, with the total average project completion level at 83 percent,” Acting Director of Local Government, Mr Jusa Zachariah, added.
Major infrastructure upgrades, particularly roads, are being prioritised as Matabeleland South prepares to host the 2026 Independence Day celebrations.
“We are happy that we are hosting Independence next year, and all the roads that link Maphisa will be rehabilitated. Mangwe, Umzingwane, and Bulilima roads will be upgraded,” ZANU PF Politburo Member, Cde Richard Ndlovu said.
“We should work together. At the end of the day, we are working to achieve the resolutions that were put forward by ZANU PF, and we have no option but to deliver. We have to deliver all the projects that were started in the province,” ZANU PF Matabeleland South Provincial Chairperson, Cde Mangaliso Ndlovu noted.
“Whatever we do, we must divide by 7 because we have 7 districts. Therefore, when we do development, it must be equal. Development is from the bottom going up. We must involve the people on the ground. As we go to the villages to implement government projects, we must involve traditional leaders and all the people so that they can feel that we are including them,” Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Albert Nguluvhe added.
Hosting Independence next year has already triggered the fast-tracking of critical projects, including road rehabilitation, hospital upgrades, and VBU expansion, all aligning with Vision 2030
