A YEAR after bold commitments were made to transform rural economies through industrialisation, concerns are growing over lack of visible progress on the ground.
While policy frameworks and new announcements continue to emerge, many rural communities say their lived realities remain unchanged, characterised limited infrastructure, few employment opportunities and continued migration to urban centres.
Nkayi South legislator Jabulani Hadebe said rural communities had grown weary of repeated policy pronouncements that were not matched by implementation.
He pointed to last year’s announcement at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, where
government launched the Rural Industrialisation Indaba with promises of inclusive growth and unlocking rural potential.
While he said the vision outlined at the indaba was commendable, he noted that little has changed in practical terms.
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“Our farmers are still waiting for irrigation systems and our young people continue to leave because there are no industries to sustain them,” he said.
Hadebe added that communities expected progress in key areas such as road rehabilitation, electrification of business centres and establishment of agro-processing facilities. However, these expectations, he said, have not been met.
“Without reliable electricity and access to finance, rural entrepreneurs cannot establish viable businesses,” he said.
Referring to the proposed national land master plan, he said the idea of provincial specialisation could only succeed if foundational issues were addressed first.
“Land tenure security, functional infrastructure and accessible credit systems are essential for meaningful development,” Hadebe said.
He urged government to prioritise implementation over new policy pronouncements. He said the 2026 national budget should clearly allocate resources towards rural industrial hubs and set timelines for infrastructure development.
Hadebe said rural communities did not lack potential, but delivery, warning that until previous commitments are fulfilled, new initiatives risk being seen as empty promises.