The Government is preparing to roll out a sweeping national land master plan aimed at transforming Zimbabwe’s land sector into a cornerstone of rural industrialisation, with authorities targeting a US$15.8 billion agricultural economy by 2030.
Speaking at the Rural Industrialisation Indaba held during the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, Lands and Rural Development Minister Vangelis Haritatos outlined an ambitious vision anchored on coordinated planning, agro-industrial zoning and inclusive participation.
Haritatos said the success of rural transformation hinges on integrating multiple sectors into a single, functional ecosystem, where land use is aligned with infrastructure, markets and industrial value chains.
“Transformation requires a coordinated ecosystem. Land, water, energy, education, health, mines, tourism, local government and rural infrastructure development must work in symphony,” he said.
At the centre of this approach is a forthcoming national master plan, which the minister described as a new land policy framework designed to drive specialisation across provinces and connect rural production zones directly to domestic and global markets.
“We are strengthening land-use planning and agro-industrial zoning… ensuring that a farm and a remote district become a vital link in a global industrial chain,” he said.
The plan seeks to reposition agriculture from a largely subsistence activity into a structured, industrialised sector capable of sustaining large-scale economic growth. Haritatos said provincial specialisation will be critical in unlocking efficiency and competitiveness across the country.
“Our target is ambitious but achievable — to grow this sector into a US$15.8 billion economy by 2030,” he said.
A key pillar of the strategy is inclusivity, with the Government promoting contract farming and corporate aggregation models to ensure smallholder farmers are integrated into value chains rather than excluded from them.
“We are promoting contract farming and corporate aggregation to ensure that smallholder farmers are not spectators in this process, but active participants and shareholders in rural industries,” Haritatos said.
He challenged stakeholders at the indaba to move beyond policy discussions and commit to tangible partnerships that translate into real industrial activity on the ground.
“Let us not leave here with just words. Let us leave with partnerships… with concrete plans for the factory floor,” he said.
The minister also framed existing structural challenges — including market access, regional imbalances and value retention — as opportunities for innovation and investment, particularly in empowering women and youth.
“How do we connect women’s cooperatives in Masvingo to export markets? How do we ensure the wealth generated from our soil remains within our districts?” he asked, urging delegates to develop practical solutions.
Haritatos said Zimbabwe’s demographic advantage, particularly its youth and women, will be central to driving the next phase of rural economic growth.
“The women and the youth dividend… will be the future and the epicentre of this success story,” he said.
As Zimbabwe accelerates toward its Vision 2030 goals, the minister emphasised that meaningful transformation will depend on how effectively the country utilises its land resources.
“The transformation of our rural economy begins with the intelligent utilisation of our land,” he said.
