The ManicaPost
Cletus Mushanawani
Editor
TODAY, April 18, 2024 is written in indelible ink as the day on which total freedom came to the beautiful nation of Zimbabwe.
The attainment of independence did not come on a silver platter as lives were lost and limbs painfully bore the brunt of the racist Rhodesia’s anger as untold suffering was inflicted on innocent Zimbabweans.
Manicaland is honoured to host this year’s 44th Independence Day celebrations in Buhera District at a time Zimbabweans are enjoying the right to self-determination.
This year’s celebrations are being held under the theme: “Unity, Peace and Development Towards Vision 2030.”
Manicaland Province is fully charged to play its role in attaining Vision 2030, with Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza leading from the front and adopting an all-inclusive approach to ensure that all life-changing projects are implemented for the benefit of the people of this province.
The multi-million dollar Marovanyati Dam in Buhera was commissioned in fulfilment of President Mnangagwa’s promise to ensure that the district realises its full economic potential through irrigation development
In a wide-ranging interview, Minister Mugadza was over the moon to host people from all walks of life during this year’s Uhuru celebrations in Buhera.
Although Minister Mugadza is the legislator for Mutasa South, he traces his roots to Buhera where his late father was Chief Nerutanga. Minister Mugadza expressed confidence that Manicaland will surpass the National Development Strategy (NDS1)’s target of a Gross Domestic Product per capita of US$3 200 by Year 2025 after it recorded a per capita GDP of US$1 522 in 2022.
The provincial per capita GDP has been on a steady increase from US$1 191 in 2019 to US$1 522 in 2022.
In 2020, the provincial per capita GDP was US$1 226 and in 2021 it was US$1 731 respectively. The measurement of provincial GDP is based on the production approach which estimates GDP by industry.
The provincial GDP estimates thus follow the principle of residence which states that production is accounted for in the province where producing units are resident.
GDP is a measure of economic activity as it measures production activities that occurred in the economy, that is, production of goods and services.
President Mnangagwa and other officials listen attentively as Verify Engineering CEO, Engineer Pedzisayi Tapfumaneyi (left) explains the operations of the acetylene gas plant during a tour of the company’s Feruka plant in Mutare in 2022
The province’s main economic drivers are mining, agriculture, wholesale and retail, manufacturing and finance and insurance.
The 2022 value added for Manicaland Province was estimated at ZWL$1024.18 billion, with agriculture accounting for ZWL$142.66 billion, while wholesaling and retailing accounted for ZWL$140.27 billion.
The value added for finance was ZWL$60.13 billion, real estate was ZWL$39.3 billion, construction was ZWL$37.61 billion, information was ZWL$32.29 billion, administration was ZWL$30.13b billion, transport was ZWL$29.72 billion and accommodation was ZWL$24.87 billion.
The value added for manufacturing and mining amounted to ZWL$241.60 billion and ZWL$165.71 billion respectively.
In mining, Manicaland has vibrant mining activities, with minerals such as diamond and gold being the major precious stones extracted, coupled with production of quarry stones and phosphates; while in agriculture, the province boasts of commercial agriculture area for Irish potatoes, horticulture produce, (tomatoes, bananas, citrus, apples, avocados, mangoes, pineapples), macadamia nuts, cotton, coffee and tea production, timber, and dairy and beef.
President Mnangagwa hailed the strategic location of Willowton refinery plant in Mutare, saying it is in sync with the call for industrial decentralisation to give impetus to provincial and rural economic hubs that propel distinct provincial gross domestic product growth
“We want to thank President Mnangagwa and his Government for honouring us to host this year’s national Independence Day celebrations. Everyone in Manicaland is excited by this gesture, and we will forever be grateful.
“As the people of Manicaland we are well-known for our hospitality and we will never disappoint. I want to thank everyone who contributed towards the success of this event, from the Presidium, political leadership, business community and the general public. The unity of purpose was beyond reproach,” said Minister Mugadza.
He said while Government has set the tone for comprehensive national development under the auspices of Vision 2030, President Mnangagwa has implored the private sector to play its part instead of being mere bystanders.
It is also envisaged that more economic benefits are expected to accrue downstream through entrepreneurial efforts of the local community.
Construction of good road infrastructure is critical to the economic growth of a country since the availability of carpet roads occasion transportation networks that make it easier for people to travel and goods to be transported — thus promoting trade and commerce — leading to a boom in economic activity
“We are happy that the private sector in Manicaland has also come on board to ensure that the economic wheels continue turning. We have witnessed a number of signature projects being rolled out and some are in the pipeline. This shows the confidence that investors have in the leadership of President Mnangagwa and the Second Republic. From all sectors of the economy, something is happening and nothing will stop us from reaching our set NDS1 targets as well as attaining Vision 2030.
“We have rolled out life-changing projects in all sectors of the economy. Most of the projects are in the agricultural sector, which is the backbone of our economy. Under the Smallholder Irrigation Revitalisation Programme and through funding from Government and a development partner, the Chibuwe Irrigation Scheme (367 hectares) in Chipinge District was rehabilitated and modernised at a cost of US$1.6 million.
“About 50ha were upgraded from surface irrigation to centre pivots. Under the same programme, work is still going on to rehabilitate the 602ha Cashel Valley and Mutambara cluster in Chimanimani District at a cost of US$3.5 million. These include Bomhoni (48ha); Mandima Main (186ha); Mandima Two and Three (22ha); Svinurai A, B and C (81ha); Maraisi A and B (43ha); Quaggas (39ha); Ruwaka (63ha); and Mutambara (120ha).
“Works are 94 percent complete and 489ha have been completed and handed over to farmers. The intervention has modernised the irrigation system from open channel canals to a piped system.
President Mnangagwa in July 2022 commissioned the US$13.3 million sawmill plant for Allied Timbers Zimbabwe in Cashel, Chimanimani that is enhancing the firm’s capacity to harness timber-related products
“A total of 116ha have been converted from a surface system to a gravity-fed sprinkler. The project is earmarked for completion by May 9, 2024. In Makoni District, the programme is funding the construction of the 384ha Romsley Irrigation Scheme. Twenty-four centre pivots have been installed and land clearance is underway. Overall project progress is at 83 percent.
There is also a project targeting the development of 500ha of the 8 000ha Kondo/Rimbi Irrigation Scheme in Chipinge District,” said Minister Mugadza.
He said Government in partnership with development partners also rehabilitated irrigation projects that were affected by the March 2019 Cyclone Idai at Musikavanhu, Gambadziya, Bwerudza and Maunganidze in Chipinge; Nyanyadzi, Nenhowe, Gudyanga, Mhandarume, Bvumbura, Nyabande and Shinja in Chimanimani; and Chipendeke in Mutare District.
Various water infrastructure has been established across the province; which include Marovanyati Dam in Buhera District, with a capacity of 50 million cubic metres and Muchekeranwa Dam with a capacity of 75 million cubic metres. Minister Mugadza said a lot of ground has been covered in ensuring availability of power across the province.
“The Chimanimani-Chipinge 155km of 33kv power line was reinforced after Cyclone Idai at a cost of US$5.5 million. In Odzi, we have a 600kW mini hydropower station that was established with grid connection at a cost of US$5 799. In Odzani, there is a one-megawatt mini-hydropower station that was established, and the installation of evacuation lines to the national grid is underway.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza
“Solar installations were carried out under the net metering programme at Southdowns, Tanganda Tea Estates in Chipinge and the NatPharm Warehouse was constructed at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital in Mutare. These projects will see customers benefitting from a reduction of their bills and the surplus being fed into the grid,” he said.
The national grid extension was established to electrify the following rural communities: Mabiya in Mutare District, which is now complete; Emerald Hill in Chipinge District, which is 30 percent complete, with some clients already connected.
Other areas set to be connected include Bangure, Ndyarima, Sostein, Mudanda, Madzivire in Buhera District; the Hakwata solar mini-grid in Chipinge District; Tsatse School to Chief Tangwena in Nyanga District; and Ruwangwe-Kazozo-Mukunza in Nyanga District.
The Minister said his office will continue playing an oversight role in all projects and programmes being implemented.
“Local authorities have defined roles within their Acts. My office plays an oversight role in all projects and programmes being implemented in the province and there will be no role conflicts. We are allegiant to Government and we will continue defending our heritage. We will have a people-centred transformation agenda,” said Minister Mugadza.
