The ManicaPost
Cletus Mushanawani
News Editor
THE resilience and willingness of Manicaland companies to adopt to new technologies has charmed President Emmerson Mnangagwa who has said this attests to the fact that the province is a safe and favourable investment destination.
President Mnangagwa was in Mutare on Wednesday as part of his nationwide tour to assess the state of the country’s manufacturing sector.
He toured Wattle Company, Willowton and Mega Market; and also commissioned a veener plant at Wattle Company.
Wattle specialises in timber processing, while Willowton focuses on edible oil. Mega Factory is into packaging and milling of fast-moving consumer goods.
The company employs 2 000 workers and grows wattle trees in Chimanimani and Chipinge.
Wattle exports its products – mainly electricity poles – to South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi and Democratic Republic of Congo.
It is now eyeing the Chinese and Malaysian markets.
Willowton Company was established in Zimbabwe in 2015.
The company is a key player in cooking oil expression and is pushing for increased production of sunflower in the country.
President Mnangagwa revealed that since the country is close to meeting its national wheat requirements, focus will soon be turned to oil-seeds production, mainly soya and sunflower.
The President also toured the US$25 Mega Market maize and wheat milling plant whose construction is almost complete.
The company is also planning to set up stock feeds and pasta manufacturing plants.
Mega Market’s giant investment has changed the face of the once sleepy Nyakamete Industrial Area as it currently employs about 500 people. There are prospects of increasing the number to 800 when the envisaged manufacturing plants are complete.
The coming on-board of the company has brought healthy competition to the country’s FMCG sector as it has grown to become one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of such goods.
The company is into maize milling, tomato sauce and rice production as well as popcorn and sugar bean distribution.
Its new wheat milling plant is expected to bring in new technologies that will enhance efficiency in the value addition of cereals.
Addressing Manicaland captains of industries, President Mnangagwa said Government has put in place the Zimbabwe National Industrial Development Policy and the Local Content Strategy to grow the country’s manufacturing sector in line with National Development Strategy 1.
“I urge Mega Market, Willowton and Wattle Company, among others, to continue supporting local supply chains as this will have multi-faceted benefits, including improving the quality of life of our people.
“On the international trade front, the proximity of Manicaland province to the eastern coastline must translate to greater access to regional and continental markets as well as increased exports for the various companies.
“I further exhort players in the private sector to appropriately position their products with regards to regional and international production, productivity and pricing trends for enhanced competitiveness.
“Innovation and continuous improvements are fundamental factors that must be consistently pursued,” said President Mnangagwa.
He urged manufacturers and other companies to focus on affordable high quality products and a wide range of brands that provide value for money.
President Mnangagwa also implored the province to scale up its production levels as the country works towards attaining an upper middle class income economy by 2030.
He also said Government is alive to the challenges being faced by the local industry and encouraged continuous engagement and dialogue between Government and the private sector to address the challenges.
Wattle Company managing director, Mrs Victoria Jakazi, hailed Government for stemming inflation and stabilising the exchange rate, thus making the business environment more predictable.
She also thanked Government for competently managing the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mrs Jakazi highlighted that land invasions, uncontrolled fires, artisanal mining, ageing power delivery equipment and impassable roads are some of the challenges affecting Wattle Company’s business viability.
Mega Market managing director, Mr Muhammad Shiraan, said the private sector has been receiving a lot of support from the Government.
President Mnangagwa was accompanied by Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri; Industry and Commerce Minister, Dr Sekesai Nzenza; Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa; and Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Nokuthula Matsikenyeri, among other Government officials.
