BY Victoria Mutale
HWANGE DISTRICT CHARTS COURSE FOR ACCELERATED DEVELOPMENT AT HIGH-LEVEL STAKEHOLDER FORUM
HWANGE — In a decisive push to bridge the gap between Hwange District’s vast natural wealth and the lived realities of its communities, a high-level stakeholder engagement forum convened at the Hwange Rural District Council offices, bringing together a broad coalition of government officials, traditional leaders, development partners, the private sector, and civil society to take stock of progress toward Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030.
The forum, convened under the leadership of the District Development Coordinator (DDC), centered on a question that has long shadowed the district: why does a territory so richly endowed — with world-class mining operations, premier tourism assets, and major corporate investment — continue to struggle with basic service delivery?
A District of Paradoxes
Permanent Secretary for Monitoring and Evaluation in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Mrs. Nditwani Muleya, who served as Guest of Honour, did not shy away from naming the contradiction directly.
“Hwange has enormous potential. What is required is for all stakeholders to work together, identify development priorities, and coordinate resources and programmes towards the betterment of this district,” she told delegates.
Her remarks carried particular weight given Hwange’s profile — a district flanked by the Zambezi, Deka, Matetsi, and Lukosi rivers, yet plagued by persistent water shortages. Stakeholders were unequivocal: water scarcity in a district of such natural abundance is not a resource problem — it is a coordination and implementation failure demanding urgent, practical solutions.
Infrastructure Under the Spotlight
Mrs. Muleya also turned attention to the deteriorating state of road infrastructure across Matabeleland North Province, raising pointed concerns about the stalled rehabilitation of the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Road. Despite contractors reportedly being assigned to the project, she noted that little visible progress had been observed on the ground.
“I prefer to travel by road,” she said, signalling her commitment to firsthand oversight of public infrastructure projects — a posture that underscores the Government’s emphasis on accountability in project delivery.
Governance, Devolution and the District Master Plan
A recurring theme throughout the forum was the imperative of structured, locally-driven planning. Mrs. Muleya reminded stakeholders that local authorities draw their constitutional mandate from Section 264 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, which enshrines devolution as a cornerstone of equitable development.
She called on Hwange Rural District Council and all resident government departments to ensure the District Master Plan is not merely a document on a shelf, but an active, living framework guiding every development decision within the district.
Cluster-based coordination was proposed as the operational model going forward — a structure designed to break down institutional silos and ensure that when resources become available, they are deployed efficiently, collectively, and with maximum community impact.
Priority Areas Demanding Immediate Action
The forum produced a clear agenda of critical interventions:
- Modernisation of healthcare infrastructure
- Overhaul of water supply systems
- Rehabilitation of railway infrastructure
- Upgrading of the Deka Bridge
- Resolution of escalating human-wildlife conflict
- Enforcement of responsible, community-inclusive investment practices
A Shared Accountability
The forum closed with renewed resolve and a clear message to all stakeholders: Hwange’s development is not the responsibility of any single institution. It demands shared ownership, transparent planning, and relentless accountability.
“His Excellency’s prime wish is for everyone to have a better life by 2030,” Mrs. Muleya affirmed — a reminder that Vision 2030 is not a distant aspiration, but a commitment with a deadline.
As the district looks ahead, the call is clear: no community should be left behind, and no potential should go unrealised.
