MATABELELAND stakeholders have raised serious concerns over the exclusion of local businesses and workers from development projects tied to the 2026 Independence Day celebrations, scheduled to be held in Maphisa, Matobo district.
Critics argued that the allocation of tenders and the treatment of local labour highlight the region’s continued marginalisation, decades after independence.
Former Speaker of the National Assembly and leader of the United Movement for Change, Lovemore Moyo, expressed alarm that the majority of construction contracts for the projects have gone to companies from outside Matabeleland.
“About 90% of the construction companies that have won tenders to development Maphisa for the independence celebrations come from outside the region,” Moyo told Southern Eye.
He noted that only one local firm, JR Goddard Construction Company, is involved in critical work like road rehabilitation.
“This shows how Matabeleland is lagging behind,” Moyo said.
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“Yes, it’s good that this will bring investment, but why should we wait for over forty years since independence to experience such development?"
Moyo questioned the logic of reserving meaningful development for national events, insisting that progress should be continuous.
“There must be a development plan. Development should be continuous.
“We will not accept substandard development to meet targets, like what we saw in Gokwe where some infrastructure projects collapsed.”
He further cautioned against attributing the development solely to the legacy of the late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo excluding other liberation pioneers from the region.
“There were other big names such as JZ [Jason Ziyaphapha] Moyo and others who hailed from the same region and were the pioneers of the liberation struggle,” he said.
“We need respect. We are national leaders, but we have regions where we come from.”
Compounding the concerns over tenders are allegations of unfair labour practice at the Joshua Nkomo Vocational Training Centre, a key site for the independence preparations.
Workers at the college claim that locals are being paid half what their counterparts from outside the region are paid and are subjected to inferior working conditions.
“They are given a light breakfast and sadza [and] meat is reserved for those coming from outside at supper, when the locals have knocked off,” the source added, alleging that harassment of local workers was common.
It is understood complaints have been officially lodged with local traditional leader, Chief Bidi.
Chief Bidi confirmed that he received complaints.
“We have received such complaints from locals and we will engage the responsible authorities and map the way forward,” he said.
Matobo district development co-ordinator Obey Chaputsira dismissed the allegations of marginalisation, adding that work is proceeding according to plan.
He confirmed that construction, including that of a new stadium, is progressing well.
He described Joshua Nkomo Vocational Training Centre as a national facility, similar to the one recently commissioned by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Marondera, Mashonaland East province.
“The one in Marondera is in the northern side, while J Nkomo is in the southern side,” Chaputsira explained.
“At capacity the college accommodates 2 000. Some of the developments will be completed before Independence Day, while others will be completed later.
“No one is being sidelined. Everything is being done according to what was agreed upon.”