Story by Lisa Masuku-Kurira
RURAL industrialisation has been described as the cornerstone of the Second Republic’s economic transformation to become an upper-middle-income society by 2030.
The inaugural Rural Industrialisation Indaba brought together government officials, as well as local and international visitors, who are convinced rural industrialisation is the cornerstone for the country’s vision of an upper-middle-income society by 2030.
“With the Rural Industrialisation Agenda, more of our people should be taken out of poverty. Rural industrialisation is the cornerstone of the Second Republic,” the Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Judith Ncube stated.
With rural communities endowed with natural resources, the panellists emphasised the importance of value-adding local resources in driving rural industrialisation.
“We want to thank the President for his visionary leadership, which has led to the formation of rural village business units in an attempt to promote rural industrialisation,” Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Advocate Misheck Mugadza said.
Embracing innovation and research was also indicated as crucial in ensuring local communities forge global linkages.
“Technology transfer is important in empowering our rural communities to innovate,” the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Honourable Mangaliso Ndlovu said.
The first-ever Rural Industrialisation Indaba was a bold statement that indicated that industrialisation is not something that can only be achieved in cities or towns.
