By Davison Vandira
THE country’s devolution drive has received a major boost after the release of Provincial Gross Domestic Product Statistics for 2019 to 2020.
The main objectives of the provincial Gross Domestic Product data is to establish strengths and potential of each of the country’s 10 provinces with a broad view of redistributing income and resources in an efficient, effective and equitable way.
From the released statistics, Harare is leading the way, with the highest GDP of $294 billion for 2020, while Bulawayo is second with a $155 Billion GDP.
The gross domestic product for the two cities is led by the manufacturing value chain, wholesale and retail trade as well as finance and insurance.
Midlands, Masvingo, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland West provinces are the stimulant provinces as they are largely activated by robust agriculture and mining activities, with limited manufacturing processes.
Matabeleland South Province with a provincial GDP of $56 billion and Matabeleland North at $61 billion are least contributors to the National GDP due to low economic enablers in the two provinces where economic activities revolved around the service industry with less power to create downward and upward linkages as compared to productive sectors.
Government’s position on the devolution programme is to enhance precision in decision and policy making to propel Zimbabwe towards an upper middle class income society by 2030.