We want to congratulate Karabo Dube, chief promoter of
the Invest Rural Initiative with the completion of the 35-
year Master Plan and the effective launch of the program
on the 25 th of February 2021. The National House of
Traditional Leaders accepted the Invest Rural Master Plan
in December 2020 as the best way forward for rural
development in our country. Touching Africa, through the
various Co-operatives, is acknowledged as business
partner and service provider in the implementation of this
plan. In the words of Karabo Dube:
“Invest Rural is a development initiative that seeks to
attract investment that will address Africa's rural
communities' plight. This initiative will specifically address
underdevelopment in South Arica's traditional community
areas, further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and
associated economic activity constraints. The aim is to
unlock the potential within traditional communities,
thereby reducing rural poverty and ensuring that people
from traditional communities participate fully and
effectively in the nations' economic recovery. This
initiative is guided by the Invest Rural Master Plan, which
sets out a framework for rural investment. Please see
attached the Abridged Invest Rural Master Plan, which
provides a synopsis of the more comprehensive
document. The intent is that traditional leaders and
communities will play a fundamental role in implementing
the Master Plan and realizing the Rural Development Goals
(RDGs) therein. During its Strategic Planning Session, the
National House of Traditional Leaders (NHTL) formerly
adopted the Invest Rural Master Plan in December 2020,
endorsing it as the best way forward for rural
development.”