By Eng Kudzai Makuku
As I write this, I can vividly picture the Mvuma of the past. I went to Mvuma Primary School as a boarder from Grade Three to Seven.
The town was small, quiet, and simple but always well connected. It had direct links to Gweru, Harare, and Masvingo, making it a key transit point even then.
I remember how on Saturdays, we were allowed to leave the school premises and visit Mvuma town. There were only a handful of shops and not much activities to talk about, really. But that’s changing, and changing fast.
Once modest and overlooked, Chivhu and Mvuma are now on the verge of transformational growth. Located along the Harare-Masvingo Highway arguably Zimbabwe’s busiest road and with a legacy as small mining towns, they’ve always had untapped potential.
Now, the game-changer is here the $1.5 billion Manhize Steel Plant. This isn’t just an industrial project it’s a massive economic catalyst, a transformational project, steel production brings a domino effect, job creation, expanded infrastructure, and surging demand for housing, retail, and services.
But that’s only the beginning.
Surrounded by thriving farming communities and cattle ranches, Chivhu and Mvuma are uniquely positioned at the intersection of agriculture and industry. It’s a powerful formula for sustainable, long term growth.
Just a few months ago, I attended an investment conference in London organized by a group of visionary Chivhu residents very forward thinking community members, any community with such diaspora members would definitely benefit greatly. I myself come from Chatsworth, another community with tremendous untapped potential but for now, let’s focus on Chivhu and Mvuma.
At the conference, I was truly inspired. One entrepreneur is already halfway through building a large abattoir, with over $300,000 invested so far in the massive project. Others are working on cluster housing projects, confident that a housing boom is imminent as more people move into the area.
And let’s not overlook infrastructure. The scale of steel production requires logistics and that means railway development. A line connecting Chivhu to Mvuma is within reach, and with vision and ambition, we could see it extend all the way to Harare.
Think investment. Think Chivhu and Mvuma. The future is already being built.
