Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira has called on the private sector and development partners to invest in key sectors of the provincial economy, which has grown to an estimated US$5 billion.
Speaking at the Zim Community Trailblazers Awards (ZCTA) 2026 at Urban Lifestyles Hotel on Friday night, Chadzamira said Masvingo’s economy had grown fivefold under the Second Republic, from about US$1 billion to its current valuation.
The province is targeting an US$8 billion economy under the forthcoming National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), in line with the country’s Vision 2030 ambitions.
“Masvingo is open for business. We have the land, the people, the universities and the tourism attractions. What we need now is capital and partnerships to turn potential into projects,” Chadzamira said.
He attributed the growth to major infrastructure projects, including the rehabilitation of the Harare-Beitbridge highway, the 5MW Great Zimbabwe Hydro-Electric plant, construction of the Mucheke Chevron Bridge and urban road upgrades.
Chadzamira urged local authorities, non-governmental organisations and private players to reduce their reliance on central government funding and embrace public-private partnerships across the province’s seven districts.
He said the Provincial Economic Development Plan 2 would prioritise structural transformation and local value addition.
In agriculture, the province has launched the Sugar Strategy 2026–2035 to modernise a sector supporting more than 13 000 jobs. Efforts are also underway to promote value addition in traditional grains, with Masvingo accounting for more than 40% of Zimbabwe’s production.
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The mining sector is also being targeted for greater beneficiation, with Masvingo Lithium Technologies at Bikita Minerals cited as part of the province’s industrialisation drive.
Chadzamira said social protection measures were also being implemented, including drought-relief programmes, improved school laboratories, more than 330 Village Business Units and land allocations targeting youths, women and war veterans.
The ZCTA gala recognised institutions and individuals contributing to Masvingo’s development.
Bikita Minerals won the Top Corporate Frontrunner and Green Energy Transition Champion award, while Masvingo Municipality received the Urban Infrastructure Modernisation and Smart City Visionary award.
Chiredzi Rural District Council was named Outstanding Devolution Project of the Year, while Chivi RDC won the Rural Industrialisation and Growth Point Champion award.
Great Zimbabwe University, led by Vice-Chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo, was recognised for pioneering heritage-based education, while the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe’s Masvingo regional office was honoured for promoting transparency.
ZCTA board member Johannes Marisa said the awards, founded by Albert Masaka, were established to shift the community’s focus from challenges to locally driven solutions.
“Tonight we are celebrating what is working. We are honouring people who chose to build instead of complaining,” Marisa said, adding that the judging panel had shortlisted finalists from hundreds of public nominations.
