Manicaland is targeting increased local value addition, improved infrastructure and digital connectivity as it formulates a five-year provincial economic development plan.
In a statement, yesterday, while officially opening a consultative workshop convened to formulate the Manicaland Five-Year Provincial Economic Development Plan, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Misheck Mugadza, said the plan would provide a framework for coordinated development across sectors.
“Today, I officially opened the Consultative Workshop convened to formulate the Manicaland 5-Year Provincial Economic Development Plan.
“We value the strategic guidance extended by the Office of the President and Cabinet throughout the process. We remain profoundly grateful to His Excellency President Dr. Emmerson D. Mnangagwa; his unwavering, transformative commitment to devolution empowers us to plan, prioritise and drive our own development,” he added.
The Minister said Manicaland had significant economic advantages that could be leveraged to accelerate development and improve livelihoods across the province.
“Our province is abundantly blessed: rich mineral wealth, breathtaking tourism landscapes, a prime position along the Beira trade corridor, and above all, an industrious, resilient people,” Mugadza said.
He, however, said the province needed to move beyond extracting and exporting raw resources by strengthening local processing and value addition.
“Yet potential alone is not enough; we must deliberately shift from exporting raw resources to local value addition, retaining jobs and prosperity within our borders,” he said.
Mugadza said the consultative process was intended to ensure that the development roadmap reflected the needs and experiences of communities and economic sectors across Manicaland.
“Guided by our philosophy Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo, this roadmap belongs to every resident. It draws from lived experience across all sectors, demands honest dialogue and whole-of-government coordination, focusing on infrastructure, digital connectivity and inclusive growth,” he said.
The Minister said successful implementation would require strong accountability, with stakeholders expected to translate the plan’s priorities into tangible development outcomes.
“Implementation and accountability will define our success as we advance towards Vision 2030,” Mugadza said.
The formulation of provincial development plans is part of Zimbabwe’s devolution framework, which seeks to give provinces and local communities a greater role in identifying priorities and driving development in line with national objectives.
For Manicaland, the process provides an opportunity to align the province’s mineral, tourism, trade and human-resource potential with investments that can stimulate production, create employment and expand opportunities for communities.
