Maphisa gets town board status

Source: Maphisa gets town board status – herald

Freeman Razemba

Senior Reporter

Maphisa Growth Point in Matobo District, Matabeleland South Province, which will host the Independence Day celebration, has been elevated to town board status.

The 46th National Independence Celebrations will be held under the theme “Zim@46 – Unity and Development Towards Vision 2030.”

This development also comes after the Government, through the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development are also constructing some of the roads in and around the area.

In a statement, the ministry said, “construction of access roads in Maphisa is currently in progress,” it said.

“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.

“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. Within the business centre, these roads link shops, markets, government offices and residential areas; they are vital for local commerce and daily life.”

The rehabilitation of the 65-kilometre Gwanda – Maphisa Road is also at an advanced stage, unlocking economic potential and improving connectivity in Matabeleland South Province.

Initial works began last year, signalling tangible progress on a route long seen as vital for regional trade and mobility.

The road’s upgrade is a cornerstone of the Government’s wider devolution agenda, designed to ensure infrastructure development reaches every province.

The transformation of this corridor is expected to be a game-changer. Upon completion, the road would drastically reduce travel time between Gwanda and surrounding districts like Matobo, seamlessly linking vital economic hubs such as the Arda Antelope estate, the Makwe Irrigation Scheme, and key tourist attractions.

It also provides the shortest route to Maphisa for travellers from Gwanda, Beitbridge and Masvingo, strengthening intra-district connectivity and opening a floodgate of new local business opportunities in mining, agriculture and tourism.

The project’s progress was affirmed this Thursday during a high-level Government tour.

Completion of the Gwanda-Maphisa Road would dramatically improve access to healthcare, education and markets for rural communities, connecting them directly to the provincial capital.

The Gwanda-Maphisa Road is one of several major infrastructure projects underway in the province, including the Plumtree-Maitengwe Road and the Beitbridge-Bulawayo Highway. This concerted effort forms the backbone of the Second Republic’s infrastructure-led economic strategy.

As articulated in a recent post-Cabinet briefing, the rotational hosting of national events has become a “powerful equaliser,” ensuring that legacy projects like this one bring tangible, long-term development to communities once considered left behind.