By Tafara Pande
MASVINGO — Masvingo Province has set an ambitious target of building a US$8 billion economy by 2030, with Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon. Engineer Ezra Ruvai Chadzamira, calling for unity, innovation, investment and value addition to accelerate economic transformation.
Hon. Chadzamira, who is also a Member of Parliament and ZANU PF Central Committee member, made the remarks today at the Flamboyant Regency Hotel while officially opening the three-day Masvingo Provincial Economic Development Plan 2 (PEDP 2) Consultative Workshop running from August 25 to 27.
The workshop brought together Government officials, technocrats, traditional leaders, local authorities, private-sector players and other stakeholders to deliberate on the province’s socio-economic priorities.
Welcoming delegates, Hon. Chadzamira said the workshop presented an important opportunity for Masvingo to define its development trajectory and translate its abundant natural resources into tangible economic benefits.
He said the province could no longer afford merely to celebrate its mineral wealth, fertile land and vast water resources without maximising their economic value.
“The mandate of this workshop is to take strict inventory and stock of what we have actually achieved with these endowments,” he said.
Hon. Chadzamira said PEDP 2 would be implemented within the framework of the newly commissioned National Development Strategy 2 (NDS 2) and the national Vision 2030 agenda.
He said Masvingo’s strategic objective was clear: to build a resilient and industrialised US$8 billion provincial economy by 2030.
The Minister highlighted mining as one of the sectors with significant potential, particularly following the Government’s drive towards mineral beneficiation and value addition.
He cited developments at Bikita Minerals, where a lithium processing facility is being developed, saying such investments would help retain greater value locally, create employment and facilitate skills transfer.
Infrastructure development was also identified as a key economic enabler. Hon. Chadzamira said the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway had reached significant completion within the province, while the Mucheke/Chevron Bridge had helped ease congestion and improve connectivity.
In agriculture, he said Masvingo had transformed from a traditionally cereal-deficit province into a cereal-surplus producer, with annual cereal production now exceeding 390,000 tonnes against an estimated provincial requirement of about 190,000 tonnes.
He called for the surplus to be converted into agro-processing industries, stock-feed manufacturing and other value-added businesses.
The Minister also highlighted investment opportunities in the Lowveld, particularly in citrus, sugarcane and renewable energy, saying these developments would complement the province’s efforts to fully exploit the potential of Tugwi-Mukosi Dam.
With Masvingo preparing to host the 2026 Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe World Tourism Expo, Hon. Chadzamira urged local businesses and investors to seize opportunities created by the international event.
He further called for climate-resilient planning, expanded irrigation, water harvesting and strengthened drought-contingency measures.
As delegates move into thematic working groups, he urged them to develop measurable targets and clear benchmarks.
“Nyika Inovakwa Nevene Vayo,” he said, emphasising that Masvingo’s transformation requires collective effort.
He officially declared the PEDP 2 Consultative Workshop open, urging delegates to produce a bold, inclusive and practical roadmap capable of delivering a prosperous US$8 billion Masvingo economy by 2030.