Manicaland raring to go
DESPITE the Covid-19 pandemic which is slowing down the global economy, Manicaland has put in place a strategy to grow its economy in line with Government’s devolution initiative enshrined under Vision 2030, the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba has said.
Manicaland is seeking to leverage on its natural endowments to grow its economy.
The province, like all other provinces in the country, has suffered major setbacks in implementing economic recovery projects due to the pandemic.
Last week, Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries chief executive officer, Ms Sekai Kuvarika, revealed that most companies are now open but have scaled down operations to about 50 percent capacity utilisation.
The agriculture sector has also suffered some setbacks brought about by a shrinking market, thereby resulting in lower incomes.
The tourism and mining sectors have also not been spared.
“This pandemic has had devastating impact on our economy. Our plan as a province is to ensure that as soon as the pandemic is over, we will resume some of our projects. For instance, the Sakubva Urban Renewal Project was about to start when the pandemic hit us. We will need to move with speed to get that project off the ground,” she said.
The Sakubva Urban Renewal Project seeks to modernise the old and run-down suburb of Sakubva and turn Mutare into a Smart City in line with Government’s Vision 2030.
The project, had it started, along with the Fernhill Gemology Centre project, would have created 45 000 direct and indirect jobs for locals.
Various companies would have been contracted to provide goods and services.
Dr Gwaradzimba said Manicaland has fertile soils and good climatic conditions for agriculture to thrive.
She said the province had mobilised farmers for the winter wheat programme and would surpass its target.
“We launched the winter wheat season recently. As a province, we were given a target of 50 000 tonnes so that we do not continue to import wheat from other countries. That foreign currency should be invested in other economic activities. We have fertile land, water, the skills, a good climate and everything that is required for us to become the breadbasket of Southern Africa once again,” she said.
“People who were allocated land need to make sure that they fully utilise it so that they contribute towards food security and create employment. Agriculture remains the mainstay of our economy,” said Dr Gwaradzimba.
She said the incorporation of small-scale miners into the development of the province is also key for economic development.
“We are in the process of formalising small-scale mining activities so that there is order in the province. As soon as this lockdown is lifted, we will go full-scale into mining activities. We had started training our small-scale miners in health and safety as well as the techniques they can use during their activities, this will continue,” she said.
Dr Gwaradzimba said there are plans to also leverage on the tourism sector.
“We have big plans for the tourism sector. This is a big foreign currency earner so we want to tap into that. We aim to grow the number of visitors here, even surpass the Victoria Falls. We also want to promote domestic tourism so that our people get to appreciate the beauty of the nature surrounding them,” she said.