eBusiness Weekly
Walter Mswazie
MASVINGO – Masvingo province is on course to attain a Gross Domestic Product of $5,2 billion by the year 2030 owing to its vast natural resources that have potential to drive growth after the advent of devolution.
Higher and Tertiary Education,Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira said Masvingo was arguably one of the richest provinces in Zimbabwe basing on its natural resources.
Addressing stakeholders during the inaugural Masvingo provincial business conference held at a local hotel on Monday, the Cabinet Minister said besides abundant natural resources the province also boasted the highest dam density in the country which could be exploited for irrigation.
He cited the planned 500 000 tonnes per annum fertiliser plant earmarked for Chiredzi as one of the key projects that will drive the province’s economic growth. The plant will manufacture fertiliser from coal and capital for the project has since been secured.
”We have all the strategic minerals in Masvingo that if fully utilised will help in ensuring that we achieve a $5,2 billion GDP for the province by 2030,” said Prof Murwira.
“We must not use our coal for making fire only but to produce ammonium nitrate since there is hydro carbon in the coal ore. We have a potential to produce 520 000 tones of fertiliser per year (in Chiredzi) yet the country only needs 320 000 tones. This means we would export the difference,” he said,
Prof Murwira said it was not imprudent for individuals and local companies to stampede for foreign currency at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe when they were not exporting anything to earn the scarce hard currency.
“I wonder why people would queue for foreign currency at the RBZ when they are not creating any foreign currency. We are supposed to start producing so that foreigners come with foreign currency to buy our products.”
The Minister said irrigation was one of the province’s key economic trump cards.
“We have quite a number of water bodies in Masvingo through which a greenbelt can be created. We should embark on massive irrigation using water in Manyuchi Dam in Mwenezi, Tugwi-Mukosi Dam in Chivi and Masvingo districts,” he said.
“We cannot use the water bodies for swimming only. Our Runde catchment is home to 2,5 million megalitres of running water while the Save catchment which also passes through our province, has 1,6 million megalitres of the precious liquid. This water can be utilised and turn our region into a food hub or food basket of the country,” he said.
Prof Murwira said Masvingo can also export excess water to arid countries in the region.
