Pic credit: Min of Transport
Maphisa Growth Point in Matobo District, Matabeleland South Province, has been elevated to town board status, marking a major administrative and developmental milestone as the area prepares to host this year’s Independence Day celebrations.
Zimbabwe will commemorate its 46th Independence Anniversary under the theme “Zim@46 – Unity and Development Towards Vision 2030.”
The upgrade of Maphisa’s status comes alongside intensified infrastructure development, with Government, through the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, undertaking the construction and rehabilitation of key access roads in and around the growth point.
In a statement, the Ministry said, “Construction of access roads in Maphisa is currently in progress. Maphisa, once a modest rural business centre in the Matobo District, was recently elevated to town board status. This recognition reflects its projected growth into a regional hub, driven by mining, agriculture, and investment from the diaspora community.”
The Ministry added that, “As a town board, Maphisa now enjoys greater autonomy in planning, infrastructure development, and service delivery, positioning it as a key growth point in Matabeleland South.”
Authorities noted that within the business centre, the roadworks are designed to connect shops, markets, Government offices and residential areas, making them critical to the smooth flow of commerce and daily life.
Meanwhile, rehabilitation of the 65-kilometre Gwanda–Maphisa Road is now at an advanced stage, a development expected to unlock economic opportunities and significantly improve connectivity across the province.
Work on the route began last year, signalling progress on a road long regarded as vital for trade and mobility.
The upgrading of the road is part of Government’s broader devolution thrust aimed at ensuring equitable infrastructure development nationwide.
Once complete, the improved corridor is expected to drastically cut travel time between Gwanda and neighbouring districts such as Matobo, while linking important economic centres including ARDA Antelope Estate, Makwe Irrigation Scheme and various tourist attractions.
The route will also serve as the shortest link to Maphisa for travellers coming from Gwanda, Beitbridge and Masvingo, strengthening intra-district connectivity and creating new opportunities in mining, agriculture and tourism.
Government officials confirmed progress on the project during a high-level tour conducted on Thursday, noting that the upgraded road will enhance access to health services, education facilities and markets for surrounding rural communities by connecting them more efficiently to the provincial capital.
The Gwanda–Maphisa Road forms part of several major infrastructure projects underway in Matabeleland South, among them the Plumtree–Maitengwe Road and the Beitbridge–Bulawayo Highway, all central to the Second Republic’s infrastructure-led development strategy.
As highlighted in a recent post-Cabinet briefing, the rotational hosting of national events has become a “powerful equaliser,” ensuring that host communities benefit from lasting infrastructure and long-term socio-economic development.
Story by Lovemore Masunungure
