News / National
Matabeleland North govt offices relocate to Lupane
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Heads of government departments in Matabeleland North have reportedly moved their offices from Bulawayo to Lupane, the region's administrative centre, as part of a broader initiative to decentralise government services.
Since independence in 1980, provincial government offices for Matabeleland North operated out of Bulawayo, located nearly 200 kilometres away from Lupane. This long-standing arrangement has been a source of criticism and frustration for residents seeking closer government presence.
In September last year, Cabinet approved the relocation of the provincial offices from Bulawayo to Lupane. However, the move was delayed due to incomplete construction of the government complex, a project that began in 2012 but faced funding shortfalls and missed deadlines.
Provincial Permanent Secretary Sithandiwe Ndumo Ncube confirmed the relocation during a monitoring and evaluation tour on Wednesday. The tour included an inspection of the newly completed government complex and adjacent housing units, which have since been handed over and occupied by departmental heads.
"This is a turning point for Matabeleland North. The physical presence of our leadership here will enhance service delivery and development," said Ncube.
She emphasised the importance of having senior officials closer to the communities they serve, adding that:
"By embedding senior officials within the province, the government hopes to foster more responsive leadership, local accountability and people-centred development. This is not just a logistical shift, it is a strategic realignment meant to anchor growth through direct engagement and presence."
The complex is named after the late Welshman Mabhena, a prominent ZAPU politician, and was originally envisioned as an administrative hub for the region.
Despite the progress, delays in the construction project and other key infrastructure developments remain a concern. The building of the provincial hospital in Lupane, initiated in 1999 when Lupane was designated the provincial capital, continues to proceed at a slow pace. Residents still rely on Bulawayo's Mpilo and United Bulawayo Hospitals for referral medical services, a situation that critics say underscores the government's historical neglect of Matabeleland North.
The government had pledged to complete the hospital ahead of the 2023 elections, a promise that has yet to be fulfilled.
The relocation of government heads to Lupane marks a significant step in addressing long-standing calls for decentralisation, but many in the province remain hopeful that tangible improvements in infrastructure and service delivery will follow.
Since independence in 1980, provincial government offices for Matabeleland North operated out of Bulawayo, located nearly 200 kilometres away from Lupane. This long-standing arrangement has been a source of criticism and frustration for residents seeking closer government presence.
In September last year, Cabinet approved the relocation of the provincial offices from Bulawayo to Lupane. However, the move was delayed due to incomplete construction of the government complex, a project that began in 2012 but faced funding shortfalls and missed deadlines.
Provincial Permanent Secretary Sithandiwe Ndumo Ncube confirmed the relocation during a monitoring and evaluation tour on Wednesday. The tour included an inspection of the newly completed government complex and adjacent housing units, which have since been handed over and occupied by departmental heads.
"This is a turning point for Matabeleland North. The physical presence of our leadership here will enhance service delivery and development," said Ncube.
She emphasised the importance of having senior officials closer to the communities they serve, adding that:
"By embedding senior officials within the province, the government hopes to foster more responsive leadership, local accountability and people-centred development. This is not just a logistical shift, it is a strategic realignment meant to anchor growth through direct engagement and presence."
The complex is named after the late Welshman Mabhena, a prominent ZAPU politician, and was originally envisioned as an administrative hub for the region.
Despite the progress, delays in the construction project and other key infrastructure developments remain a concern. The building of the provincial hospital in Lupane, initiated in 1999 when Lupane was designated the provincial capital, continues to proceed at a slow pace. Residents still rely on Bulawayo's Mpilo and United Bulawayo Hospitals for referral medical services, a situation that critics say underscores the government's historical neglect of Matabeleland North.
The government had pledged to complete the hospital ahead of the 2023 elections, a promise that has yet to be fulfilled.
The relocation of government heads to Lupane marks a significant step in addressing long-standing calls for decentralisation, but many in the province remain hopeful that tangible improvements in infrastructure and service delivery will follow.
Source - Southern Eye
