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Leonard Ncube – [email protected]
THE Matabeleland North Provincial Investment Conference continues this morning in Victoria Falls amid calls for decentralisation of infrastructure and services as well as the creation of incubation hubs in rural areas.

Various stakeholders are attending the conference which started on Monday and ends Tuesday.
The province has seven districts namely Binga, Bubi, Hwange, Lupane, Nkayi, Tsholotsho and Umguza and is largely rural with Victoria Falls being the only city while Hwange becomes the only other urban area.
The theme for this year’s conference is: “Unlocking Matabeleland North’s Potential: Investing in Sustainable Infrastructure and Housing Development for Economic Transformation.“

The conference is part of efforts to unlock the massive economic potential of the province by luring partnerships and potential foreign investors to tap into available opportunities.
This morning was dedicated to presentations by the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) and Amalima Loko to showcase work they are doing in the province including proposals for development.

Participants proposed the need for the creation of innovation and incubation hubs for young people and women, particularly small and medium enterprise traders in growth points and rural areas.
They also called for decentralisation of infrastructure and services to allow citizens especially pensioners to access services without having to travel outside the province.

Matabeleland North’s provincial capital is Lupane where the Government is constructing the Welshman Mabhena Government Complex, Provincial Hospital and other services while Lupane State University and Civil Registry offices are already on site.
This is the second such conference following an inaugural event held last year in Lupane.
The province has vast opportunities in mining, wildlife conservation, tourism, and farming and is home to one of the World’s Natural Wonders, Victoria Falls, and one of Africa’s biggest game parks, Hwange National Park.