{"id":489,"date":"2025-11-06T02:53:12","date_gmt":"2025-11-06T02:53:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/?p=489"},"modified":"2025-11-06T02:53:19","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T02:53:19","slug":"zanu-pf-conference-matabeleland-demands-development-not-promises","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/?p=489","title":{"rendered":"ZANU-PF Conference: Matabeleland demands development, not promises"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by MKHOKHELI NCUBE<\/em>
MAPHISA – THE announcement that Mahetshe Secondary School sports arena in Maphisa, Matabeleland South, will host the 2026 Independence Gala has been met with mixed reactions across the region.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While some local leaders welcome the event as a potential economic boost, others question whether such national gatherings ever translate into tangible development for the long-marginalised Matabeleland provinces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A senior government official confirmed that preparations for the gala are underway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe gala will be held at Mahetshe Secondary School sports arena. We recently convened a meeting to kick-start preparations. The line-up will feature many artists from the Matabeleland region,\u201d said the official.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event is expected to attract thousands of visitors and musicians from across the country \u2014 a development that could briefly inject money into local hospitality, transport, and informal trade sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, analysts argue that such short-term benefits cannot replace decades of economic neglect and underinvestment that have left Matabeleland lagging behind other regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matabeleland North and South remain some of Zimbabwe\u2019s least developed provinces, despite their vast mineral resources, tourism potential, and proximity to regional trade routes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to economists, both provinces suffer from poor infrastructure, low industrial investment, and chronic youth unemployment \u2014 issues that have persisted since independence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Political analyst Dr. Mkhululi Ncube says ZANU-PF has failed to translate its political dominance into meaningful development in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMatabeleland has hosted numerous national events over the years \u2014 from conferences to Independence galas \u2014 but the reality is that very little changes afterwards,\u201d said Dr. Ncube.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople want roads, irrigation projects, and industries, not just music festivals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ahead of its annual conference to be held in Matabeleland next year, ZANU-PF officials are touting the event as a \u201cmoment of renewal and empowerment\u201d for locals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, residents remain skeptical, citing years of broken promises such as the unfulfilled Zambezi Water Project, incomplete Bulawayo\u2013Nkayi and Plumtree\u2013Tsholotsho roads, and stalled industrial revival initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A local entrepreneur in Maphisa, Nomusa Dube, voiced her frustration:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEach time ZANU-PF brings a big event here, they promise development. But after the cameras leave, we\u2019re forgotten again. We need consistent investment \u2014 not one-day galas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Economists say Matabeleland\u2019s economy could thrive if government policies shifted toward decentralised industrialisation and inclusive budgeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The region has the potential to lead in livestock production, tourism, renewable energy, and cross-border trade with Botswana and South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMatabeleland should not depend on national galas for visibility,\u201d said business analyst Tawanda Moyo. \u201cIt should have sustainable economic programs driven by local industries and supported by fair government policies. The centralisation of resources in Harare has crippled regional growth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The upcoming ZANU-PF conference in Matabeleland is expected to be a high-profile affair, drawing attention to the ruling party\u2019s development record in a region long seen as politically and economically alienated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Insiders say the party wants to use the conference to \u201creconnect\u201d with local communities \u2014 a move critics see as strategic image repair ahead of the 2028 general elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, without tangible progress in infrastructure, job creation, and empowerment, such gatherings risk deepening public frustration rather than easing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For now, the people of Maphisa and surrounding areas will welcome the temporary economic activity that comes with the Independence Gala.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vendors will sell, lodges will fill, and transport operators will make brisk business. But beneath the celebration lies a louder question \u2014 when will Matabeleland\u2019s long-promised development truly arrive?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by MKHOKHELI NCUBEMAPHISA – THE announcement that Mahetshe Secondary School sports arena in Maphisa, Matabeleland South, will host the 2026 Independence Gala has been met with mixed reactions across the region. While some local leaders welcome the event as a potential economic boost, others question whether such national gatherings ever translate into tangible development for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":490,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,8,9,44,11,45,3,12,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-489","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editors-pick","category-hot-topics","category-latest-updates","category-local","category-must-read","category-national","category-news","category-politics","category-politics-news"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ZANU-PF-leadership-in-Maphisa-Matabeleland-south-150x150.jpeg","medium":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ZANU-PF-leadership-in-Maphisa-Matabeleland-south-300x225.jpeg","medium_large":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ZANU-PF-leadership-in-Maphisa-Matabeleland-south.jpeg","large":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ZANU-PF-leadership-in-Maphisa-Matabeleland-south.jpeg","1536x1536":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ZANU-PF-leadership-in-Maphisa-Matabeleland-south.jpeg","2048x2048":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ZANU-PF-leadership-in-Maphisa-Matabeleland-south.jpeg","post-thumbnail":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ZANU-PF-leadership-in-Maphisa-Matabeleland-south.jpeg"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"administrator","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a3d5ebfe727f13fb325bd400aaaf5e789d3e2e20898883d9ae8e3d3d42d58cef?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"by MKHOKHELI NCUBEMAPHISA – THE announcement that Mahetshe Secondary School sports arena in Maphisa, Matabeleland South, will host the 2026 Independence Gala has been met with mixed reactions across the region. While some local leaders welcome the event as a potential economic boost, others question whether such national gatherings ever translate into tangible development for […]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["Editor's Pick","Hot Topics","Latest Updates","Local","Must Read","National","News","Politics","Politics"],"magazineBlocksPostViewCount":146,"magazineBlocksPostReadTime":3,"magazine_blocks_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ZANU-PF-leadership-in-Maphisa-Matabeleland-south.jpeg",600,450,false],"medium":["https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ZANU-PF-leadership-in-Maphisa-Matabeleland-south-300x225.jpeg",300,225,true],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ZANU-PF-leadership-in-Maphisa-Matabeleland-south-150x150.jpeg",150,150,true]},"magazine_blocks_author":{"display_name":"administrator","author_link":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/?author=2"},"magazine_blocks_comment":0,"magazine_blocks_author_image":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a3d5ebfe727f13fb325bd400aaaf5e789d3e2e20898883d9ae8e3d3d42d58cef?s=96&d=mm&r=g","magazine_blocks_category":"Editor's Pick<\/a> Hot Topics<\/a> Latest Updates<\/a> Local<\/a> Must Read<\/a> National<\/a> News<\/a> Politics<\/a> Politics<\/a>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/489","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=489"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/489\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":491,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/489\/revisions\/491"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/490"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=489"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=489"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=489"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}