Source: Councils urged to attract investment – herald
Midlands Bureau
MIDLANDS Provincial Affairs and Devolution Secretary Dr Edgar Seenza has challenged local authorities to enhance service delivery and remove red tape to make their districts more attractive to investors, warning that poor municipal performance stifles economic growth.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the US$2.5 million Nichrut College in Shurugwi’s Donga area recently, Dr Seenza said inefficient local governance not only deterred potential investors, but also hampered the overall pace of development.
“I challenge local authorities to make themselves more attractive to investors by providing efficient service delivery, as well as removing bottlenecks that make it difficult for investors to set up businesses swiftly,” he said.
The college project is being financed by Shurugwi-born entrepreneur Mr Nicholas Gara, with construction scheduled to begin in September. Dr Seenza described local authorities as the “drivers” of the Government’s devolution and decentralisation agenda, urging them to fully embrace investment promotion within their jurisdictions.
“To this end, I implore our local authorities, who are the drivers of the devolution and decentralisation agenda at local level, to fully embrace investment promotion in their areas of jurisdiction by promoting ease of doing business and strengthening service delivery guided by global best practice,” he said.
The Secretary noted that private investments of this nature are essential for revitalising local economies and reducing over-reliance on traditional industries. He added that the education sector, in particular, offers a strategic outlet for channelling locally generated capital while simultaneously expanding social infrastructure.
“Investment in education represents an opportunity to channel locally generated capital into a different segment of the economy, whilst simultaneously expanding social infrastructure,” Dr Seenza said.
He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensuring public and private investment work in tandem as the Second Republic pursues infrastructure development, modernisation, and industrialisation. The Nichrut project, he said, aligns with national policy encouraging public-private partnerships and indigenous enterprise.
The college is expected to create more than 100 jobs during its construction phase, with additional permanent teaching, administrative, and support positions once it becomes operational.
“I am reliably informed that construction of Nichrut Private College will commence in September this year and will offer employment to more than 100 people. The college therefore gives Shurugwi an immediate construction project, whilst potentially creating permanent teaching, administrative and support-service employment once operational,” said Dr Seenza.
He also praised Mr Gara for his sustained investments across mining, agriculture, and sport, saying the Government wants districts to harness their own entrepreneurs as a source of development capital.
In response, Mr Gara said the project complements the Second Republic’s infrastructure development drive under Vision 2030.
“The project will generate more than 100 jobs during construction,” he said.
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