WARD 19 councillor of Maphisa in Matobo district, Nqobizitha Ngwenya (Citizens Coalition for Change), has expressed cautious optimism following a presentation by Zwane Investments, the company awarded the contract to upgrade the Old Gwanda Road to a modern tarred highway.
The road, which cuts through Matobo district, is set to undergo significant reconstruction under a Build-Operate-and-Transfer model.
According to council, Zwane Investments will recoup its investment by collecting toll fees over a 25-year period.
“This is a massive development for our district,” Ngwenya told Southern Eye in an interview.
“While we are excited, we are also very cautious, knowing how long such projects can take before the benefits reach communities.”
Key features of the project include the extraction of road-building materials such as quarry stone, river and pit sand from Matobo.
Additionally, land has been requested for a tollgate at Fort Usher Turnoff and a shopping mall at Ntunjambili, developments that have far-reaching implications for the district’s economic and cultural landscape.
Ngwenya said the tollgate was expected to be the main revenue earner for the company as it sought to recoup costs over the coming decades.
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“They need land for that tollgate from Matobo RDC and we’ve noted the importance of such a facility in terms of income generation,” he said.
The proposed shopping mall in Ntunjambili has sparked both interest and concern.
While the development aligns with Matobo RDC’s broader economic vision, it also overlaps with ecologically and culturally sensitive zones.
“Our district master plan, already approved and awaiting ministerial actioning, envisions Ntunjambili as an agro-production and processing zone,” Ngwenya said.
“It is an area with abundant wetlands ideal for market gardening, which could significantly boost the local economy — even if much of the produce goes to Bulawayo.”
He added that the area was not only rich in natural resources but also home to heritage sites.
“We expect Zwane Investments to ensure road works do not disturb these cultural treasures. These sites are invaluable to us,” Ngwenya said.
Efforts are already underway to accommodate villagers who will be displaced by road construction.
According to Ngwenya, four homesteads have already been built for affected families in line with constitutional requirements for humane relocation.
Employment creation is another anticipated benefit.
“Unskilled and skilled labour will be sourced locally,” Ngwenya said. “We have made it clear to the company that Matobo residents must be considered first for all available opportunities — and it has agreed to that.”
Despite the promising framework presented by Zwane Investments, the councillor remained measured in his expectations.
