By Fanuel Chinowaita
Manicaland is undergoing a broad economic and infrastructural transformation under the Second Republic, with major investments in transport, industrialisation, service delivery and tourism beginning to reshape livelihoods and unlock long-standing economic potential in the eastern border province.
This emerged yesterday during a provincial media tour led by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere, alongside the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza.
Addressing journalists at Grand Reef Airport before the tour commenced, Dr Muswere said the exercise was designed to give the media firsthand exposure to tangible development projects implemented by Government.
“Members of the Fourth Estate, our provincial media tour in Manicaland will run today and tomorrow, with a major emphasis on the notable achievements of the Second Republic,” said Dr Muswere.
He said Government recognises the constitutional role of the media and has put in place mechanisms to support journalists in executing their mandate in line with Sections 61 and 62 of the Constitution.
“The support includes transport, food and ensuring freedom of access so that the media can fulfil its constitutional obligation. A number of the projects we are showcasing fall under the 100-day cycle programmes registered under the leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa,” he said.
Dr Muswere cited the reopening and upgrading of Grand Reef Airport as a flagship project that has transformed connectivity between Harare and Mutare.
“The opening of Grand Reef Airport has eased travel arrangements as we now utilise air travel between Harare and Mutare. This is part of the modernisation thrust and a key enabler of ease of doing business,” he said.
Soon after the briefing, the media tour proceeded to several strategic sites across the province, including the Komo United Resins Private Limited manufacturing plant in Mutasa District, the ultramodern Manicaland Provincial Registrar’s Office in Mutare, Grain Marketing Board (GMB) silos, the Mutare Teachers College fruit juice and water processing plant.
At the centre of Manicaland’s industrialisation drive is the Komo United Resins plant, a US$10–15 million investment being developed by a Chinese investor on the outskirts of Mutare.
The project is nearing completion and is expected to commence operations in February 2026.
Once operational, the factory will process pine resin into higher-value industrial products, creating hundreds of direct jobs and supporting nearly 2 000 more across the supply chain, from resin tappers to transporters.
At full capacity, the plant is projected to employ more than 2 500 skilled and unskilled workers, positioning Manicaland as a regional hub for resin-based exports.
Speaking during the tour, Komo United Resins Pvt Ltd Director, Zhao Guisheng, said the company is prioritising local employment as the project moves towards operationalisation.
“We expect to employ about 2 500 local people when the plant becomes fully operational. This project is meant to benefit the local communities through job creation and skills development,” said Zhao.
Advocate Mugadza described the project as a milestone in rural industrialisation, particularly for a province that holds over 90 percent of Zimbabwe’s exotic pine plantations.
“For years, our forests have been known mainly for timber, yet they hold much more economic value. This project unlocks new value, creates employment and brings export earnings to Manicaland,” he said.
Beyond its economic significance, the resin plant is also expected to help address long-standing challenges in the forestry sector, including illegal settlements and recurrent wildfires that have devastated plantations in the eastern highlands.
By formalising the resin value chain and linking livelihoods to standing forests, authorities believe the project could incentivise forest protection and reduce arson-related losses.
Infrastructure development remains a key pillar of the province’s transformation. Dr Muswere said thousands of kilometres of gravel and tarred roads have been rehabilitated or constructed nationwide, including in Manicaland, with several projects still underway.
“These include the Mutare bypass project and the modernisation of the Forbes Border Post to enhance the movement of goods and services between Zimbabwe, Mozambique and the rest of the world,” he said.
Service delivery improvements were also highlighted during the tour, particularly at the Manicaland Provincial Registrar’s Office, where the completion of a state-of-the-art facility has significantly reduced queues for birth certificates, national identity cards and passports.
The tour also showcased investments in education and agro-processing infrastructure at Manicaland State University, Mutare Teachers College and Mutare Polytechnic College.
The Mutare Teachers College fruit juice and water processing plant is expected to contribute to value addition, skills development and practical training.
Tourism and connectivity are also benefiting from renewed investment.
Advocate Mugadza said the introduction of Harare–Mutare Air Zimbabwe flights has already increased tourist arrivals by significantly reducing travel time between the capital and Manicaland’s key tourism destinations, including Mtarazi Falls.
“This is a game changer for tourism in the province. Visitors can now reach Mutare within minutes and access our major attractions with ease,” he said.
Looking ahead, Government plans to construct Terminal Two in Mutasa, featuring a 4km runway and cargo handling facilities. The proposed airport is expected to support exports from Manicaland’s greenbelt and further integrate the province into regional and international markets.
Dr Muswere said the media tour also covers commissioned and ongoing dam infrastructure projects, including Marovanyati and Muchekeranwa dams, which are central to food and nutrition security under the revised agro-ecological framework.
“These projects support agriculture, food security and nutrition security, ensuring that we leave no one and no place behind,” he said.
As Manicaland accelerates investment in mega infrastructure and value-added industrial projects, Government officials say the true measure of success will extend beyond economic growth to inclusive and sustainable development that converts long-standing challenges into shared opportunity.