In line with the vision to transform the Kanyemba border area into a town by 2023, the Mbire Rural District Council has thickened plans and effort to develop and modernize the area.

A total land mass of 3000 hectares that stretches 15 Kilometers along the shores of the Zambezi River was set aside by the council for the project. Construction work has already commenced. A road tarred with bitumen has already been constructed which links Zambia and Zimbabwe and shows the authority's commitment to transform Kanyemba into a town status has started to materialize.

Kanyemba is located in the north-eastern part of Zimbabwe. It is a border village on the bank of the Zambezi River and forms boundary with Mozambique and Zambia. The second-largest hydro-electric power facility of the Zambezi River, the upper reaches of the Lake Cabora Bassa, is just a few Kilometers away from Kanyemba’s Rest Camp. According to a statement by Claudius Majaya, the District Chief Executive, the 3000 hectares that were reserved will be used for commercial stands, residential stands, and recreational facilities. Some parts of the area will be used for the construction of hospitals, banks, and warehouse.

“The 3000 hectares of land found along the Zambezi River has been packaged by the Mbire Rural District Council. A total number of 2 to 5 hectares will be for residential purposes, recreational facilities as well as commercial stands. The authorities want rapid growth in these areas. Therefore, the available land will be used for services like hospitals, banks as well as to build warehouses.

Also speaking, Mr. Majaya said, “Our aim as MRDC is to completely modernize the border region as it links Zambia to Zimbabwe into central Africa. In fact, we want to modernize and improve the standard of living of people in the area to match those of what a real border town looks like by 2023,”

The steps we took to modernize Kanyemba will help to unlock the potentials in the area that is sharing borders with Zambia to the north and Mozambique on the eastern side. The area is situated on the floodplain of the Zambezi River and dominated currently by fisheries, lodges and few holiday homes.

At the investment conference that took place on Friday in Kanyemba, Cosmas Chiringa, the Mashonaland Central Provincial Administrator said, it will require hard work from the Government and all stakeholders involved for Kanyemba to achieve town status.