Bulawayo Mayor Senator David Coltart has issued a rallying cry to investors, academics and industry leaders, declaring that the time for strategising is over and the focus must now shift to delivering tangible economic results for the city.
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Read E-PaperIn a speech read on his behalf by Councillor A. Ndlovu at Mavuna Lodge today, the Mayor officially opened the combined Bulawayo Economic Development Conference and City of Bulawayo Research and Innovation Seminar (BEDCON-COBRIS 2026).
The three-day event is being held under the theme “The Implementation Imperative: Delivering Sustainable Prosperity Through Collaborative Industry.”
Addressing a packed room that included Finance Minister Professor M. Ncube and Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Honourable J. Ncube, the mayor emphasised that the city is moving beyond theory to become a knowledge-based economy.
“For Bulawayo to develop, we need to be informed by data and statistics. Thus, this conference becomes that window where we interrogate our limitations and also come up with solutions to drive Bulawayo’s economy.
“We gather under a powerful and timely theme: ‘The Implementation Imperative: Delivering Sustainable Prosperity Through Collaborative Industry.’ We have a clear vision of becoming a smart and sustainable city,” said Senator Coltart.
The conference is anchored on six thematic pillars: ease of doing business, SME growth, economic devolution, workspace security, intellectual property, and global market access.
He noted that these pillars are directly aligned with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS-2) and the national goal of achieving a technologically driven upper-middle-income society by 2030.
Highlighting the critical role of research and collaboration, the mayor revealed that the city has partnered with local tertiary institutions to ensure that academic papers presented at the seminar address real-world industry, municipal and societal needs.
“Papers that will be presented during the course of this conference are expected to address some of the industry needs, municipal needs and societal needs.
“Through BEDCON-COBRIS 2026, we invite investors, corporate leaders, and international partners to close the gaps, which will be presented and showcased through research and innovation.”
Mayor Sen. Coltart also invoked Bulawayo’s historical legacy as a hub of manufacturing and intellectual excellence but warned that history alone would not secure the city’s future.
He called for open engagement and bold networking to unlock opportunities in urbanisation, infrastructure development, and youth employment.
“To our researchers, engage directly with the market; to our entrepreneurs, seek scalable partnerships; and to our local and international investors, unlock the untapped potential within our city.
“Together, let us turn our shared aspirations into reality and deliver sustainable prosperity for all.”
The conference brings together academia, industry, government, civil society, and development partners for three days of intensive deliberation and networking.
