GOVERNMENT has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that infrastructure development projects in Matabeleland North province are completed on time.
Speaking during a high-level engagement meeting with local authorities, government departments, traditional leaders, development partners and other provincial stakeholders in Lupane as part of the ongoing Provincial Economic Development Plan (PEDP II) consultations for the period 2026-30, Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister Richard Moyo said government was committed to completing the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway rehabilitation project.
“Our timelines to complete the rehabilitation project by the end of the year have not changed,” he said.
Stakeholders had raised concern over the deteriorating state of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway, calling on government to consider declaring the road a national disaster and prioritising it for dedicated monthly funding.
They noted that the highway is a strategic transport corridor critical for tourism, trade, investment and regional connectivity.
Approximately 59 kilometres of the 440-kilometre highway have been rehabilitated and opened to traffic, including recent milestones in the Insiza and Jotsholo areas.
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However, the minister acknowledged that funding constraints affected the pace of work in some sections, although he stressed that government remains committed to meeting its completion target.
The consultative meeting was aimed at reviewing progress on developmental projects across local authorities, assessing implementation challenges and consolidating institutional frameworks necessary for the successful delivery of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which serves as a key catalyst towards the attainment of Vision 2030.
The consultations are anchored on government’s development philosophy of “Leaving no one and no place behind.”
The remarks come as Joram Gumbo, the Special Adviser to the President on Monitoring and Implementation of Government Programmes and Projects, is touring several projects in Matabeleland North province this week to assess progress.
Besides assessing progress on the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway rehabilitation exercise, Gumbo also toured Lupane State University’s sprawling Technovation Centre, along with several other development projects in the province.
Moyo commended significant developmental gains recorded across the province, particularly the increase in the number of clinics, schools, village business units, irrigation schemes and the ongoing upgrading of rural road network.
“Let us remain united and inclusive in our approach so that sustainable development can be achieved throughout the province,” he said.
“My office remains open for engagements, consultations, and positive solution-oriented proposals that advance development.
“I also urge local authorities to improve service delivery and ensure the diligent, transparent, and expeditious implementation of government programmes and projects.”
Moyo further reaffirmed government’s commitment to people-centred development and accountability, emphasising that continuous stakeholder engagement remains essential in driving socio-economic transformation and achieving the aspirations of Vision 2030 for communities across Matabeleland North.
Participants acknowledged that the investments are improving access to essential services, enhancing rural livelihoods and creating economic opportunities for communities.
The consultations also provided stakeholders with an opportunity to contribute ideas and proposals towards the formulation of PEDP II, ensuring that provincial priorities align with the key focus areas of NDS2.
These include strengthening service delivery systems, accelerating infrastructure development, promoting investment and industrialisation, enhancing agricultural productivity, creating employment opportunities for youths and women, and improving climate resilience initiatives.
Participants further underscored the need for increased collaboration between local authorities, government departments and communities to ensure efficient implementation of development programmes and the prudent utilisation of public resources.