province is positioning itself to become the country’s leading agro-based economy, leveraging on its water bodies, arable land, and a growing appetite for investment.
This Thursday, a Masvingo Investment Conference commenced, bringing together government officials, investors, entrepreneurs, and development partners to highlight economic opportunities in the province, particularly in agriculture.
Held under the theme “Invest in Masvingo – Your Gateway to Economic Growth for Vision 2030,” the three-day conference aims to accelerate Masvingo’s transformation into a thriving agro-based economy and position it as a key contributor to Zimbabwe’s national development goals.
Delivering the keynote address, the Permanent Secretary for Masvingo Province, Dr Addmore Pazvakavambwa, said the province is working towards becoming a US$8 billion economy by 2030, in line with the national vision of achieving upper-middle-income status.
“As a province, we are targeting to become a US$8 billion economy by 2030 in line with the national vision for an upper middle-income society. This conference is an opportunity for us to engage with potential investors and we have got a lot of opportunities in agriculture, mining, tourism, retail and manufacturing. However, our target is to be an agro-based economy, tapping into available water resources in the province and rich soils hence a lot of opportunities for investors in the agriculture sector,” he said.
Masvingo boasts of several major water bodies, including Lake Mutirikwi and Tugwi-Mukosi Dam, which present significant potential for irrigation-based agriculture, aquaculture, and agro-processing ventures.
Mr Joseph Mverecha, Chief Director for Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, emphasised that the platform was designed to elevate the province’s visibility and unlock investment opportunities.
“Through this conference, we are going to showcase Masvingo province’s strength, highlight key growth sectors, natural resources and strategic location. Again, this is an opportunity to showcase bankable investment projects in key sectors of the economy,” he said.
In a presentation to delegates, Dr John Mangudya, Chief Executive Officer of the Mutapa Investment Fund, urged the province to consider public-private partnerships (PPPs) in energy and infrastructure development to attract sustainable investment.
“As a province, considering public-private partnerships is also very important, especially in establishing plants, either hydro or solar. This will help you to leverage private sector financing, technology and expertise,” he said.
Several other presentations were made by notable experts in economics, business, and finance, outlining strategic approaches for leveraging Masvingo’s natural and human capital resources.
The conference continues through the weekend, with investors expected to tour key sites and engage in structured dialogue on infrastructure, agro-industrial development, and financial services.
