Government completes over 800 projects in Midlands

GWERU – Midlands province is the epitome of the mining sector in the country and home to the
greater part of the Great Dyke, hence “The Resource Centre of Zimbabwe.”
The province, which is home to about 1 .8 million people, is endowed with high value minerals which
include gold, platinum, diamonds, iron ore, nickel and chrome.
Manufacturing sector in the province is anchored on mining and agriculture, and is driven by value
addition and beneficiation of primary produce.
According to a document from the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in the
Midlands province, the Second Republic led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, set itself 1 083
targets and has to date completed about 800 projects as part of its array of strategies that drive
economic growth.
Some of the key companies which are contributing towards the US $12 billion mining economy by
2030 include Dinson Iron and Steel Company, JINA Chrome, Unki Mine, RZM Murowa Diamonds,
Mimosa, Zimasco and RioZim.
In the province, the Second Republic availed healthcare services by constructing new health posts
and clinics, renovating and rehabilitating existing clinics and building houses for health workers.
“Over 15 new clinics were completed and seven clinics were renovated. Eight pharmaceutical stores
were established in the province. Over 300 primary health facilities were installed with 8kva solar
panels.
“There are however, many other projects that are on-going and teams are on the ground working to
ensure their completion within the shortest possible time,” read the document.
On water and sanitation, a total of 109 Presidential Boreholes and 135 by councils were drilled in the
province. Boreholes were drilled at the homesteads of chiefs and installation was done to over 200
primary health facilities.
About 4 000 boreholes in all the districts were maintained and rehabilitated. The government is
currently constructing Defe and Vungu dams.
Another key development agenda for the Second Republic is the education sector, which is a
“powerful agent of change that contributes to social stability and drives long-term economic
growth”.
“The Second Republic has constructed 48 schools and additional teachers’ houses in the province. A
total of 103 schools benefited from the construction of additional classroom blocks and science
labs,” reads the document.
On-going projects include the construction of 86 classroom blocks, 56 houses for teachers and 27
administration blocks.

The Midlands State University is currently constructing the Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Law
School in Kwekwe. Besides, the industrial park, MSU recently commissioned the National Pathology
and Diagnosis Centre.
In line with the importance of research and innovation, as key drivers for industrialisation, the
Second Republic constructed Innovation Hubs at all universities which are implementing the
Education 5.0 Model of putting theory into practice.
MSU completed the National Pathology and Diagnostics Centre Laboratories, MSU Language Centre
(which translates books and documents into 16 approved official vernacular languages), established
the MSU Industrial Park which is into garment making and fruit juice production.
Three Science Laboratories were upgraded and equipped at Mkoba Teachers’ College to capacitate
teachers in the teaching of Sciences.
The Second Republic managed to construct a girls’ hostel at Zvishavane Vocational Training Centre
where more girls can now be enrolled for skills training and development.
In line with the mantra “leaving no place and no one behind” and ensuring that every corner of the
country is connected, 17 Community Information Centres were established, 40 ICT labs were
established and 124 schools were connected in the province.
“The Network Base Stations which were installed are Dendera Multi Operator Radio Access Network
(MORAN), Lundi in Zvishavane, Mapfungautsi in Gokwe South and Lalapanzi in Gweru.
“Eight Public Finance Management System (PFMS) Kiosks were established in all the eight districts
and 5 000 homes were reached with FTYH in Gweru and Zvishavane.
“On women, community, SMEs and youth empowerment, the Second Republic managed to establish
the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Clothing Cluster Capacitation project in Gweru.
Women projects have had an impact on socio-economic growth, thereby transforming lives,” read
part of the document.
Some of the lives changing women projects in the province include poultry, horticulture, tailoring,
retailing, food processing, detergent making, bakery and goat breeding.
The Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank funded 15 229 (women 12 466 and men 2 763) projects
to the tune of ZW $115 647 341. Funded projects were in agriculture, construction and property,
energy and minerals, individuals, manufacturing, trade band services, transport and distribution.
A total of 23 827 jobs were created and 37 368 jobs were sustained.
About 14 000 MSMEs and cooperatives were trained in technical and business management skills in
costing, record keeping, entrepreneurship, patenting and branding and cooperative registration.
Over 3 000 MSMEs were linked to domestic, regional and international markets.
Under the Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Livelihoods Project, a vegetable value addition centre
was established in Gokwe South.
On transport and infrastructure development, the Second Republic repaired and maintained feeder
roads and bridges that connect provinces and communities to ensure easy flow of socio-economic
activities.

“One such initiative is the construction of Gunguhwe Bridge which links Gokwe South and Gokwe
North as well as Midlands with Mashonaland West province.
“The Second Republic managed to construct 14 bridges, repaired 22 bridges, gravelled a total of
316.7km roads and maintained 3 847km roads.”
On agriculture, 30 000 farmers in the Midlands province benefited from the Livestock Production
(Presidential pasture production scheme). All the districts also benefited from the Presidential
Poultry Pass-on Scheme and the Presidential Goat Scheme. About 400 goats and 30 000 chicks were
distributed in all the districts.
The Midlands province has 360 hectares of functional irrigation. Over 475 000 households benefited
under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme. Mobile Grain Dryers were delivered to all GMB depots in
the province.
Some of the completed projects include the Zvishavane Community Archive, e-passport offices in
Zvishavane, Manoti Registrar’s office in Gokwe South and the upgrading of Kudzanayi bus terminus
in Gweru.

The effort to improve the broadcasting services in previously unserved areas saw the renewal of the
Gweru FM Transmitter, construction of new tower infrastructure for the Gokwe Senga Digital TV and
Zvishavane Digital TV, installation of 3-phasegrid for Nembudziya Outdoor Viewing Screen and
transmitter installation for MSU Campus Radio in Zvishavane.
“The Midlands province together with all its stakeholders that include Ministries, departments and
Agencies (MDAs) and development partners will continue to work hard in order to ensure that the
plight of the citizenry is addressed and that the national vision of a prosperous and empowered
upper middle society by 2030 is achieved,” according to the document.