The ManicaPost
Freedom Mutanda
In the era of devolution, Chipinge district, with its abundant natural resources and well represented human resource element in agriculture, engineering, building, nursing, teaching and governance among others, is poised for growth and significant contribution to Manicaland Province.
Plantations permeate the life and soul of Chipinge. Silverstream, Smaldeel, Mooiplaats, Chirinda and Ngungunyana Forests are the pride of the district.
Thousands of people are employed in those plantations and their economic impact is huge but there is more to be extracted from the plantation agriculture in the district if proper planning is enhanced by both the private and public sectors.
A forester, Mr Trust Mlambo, says it is the bane of African economies that extractive industries remain like that decades after independence; there is no value addition and the country will remain a low class economy even as education standards soar.
“Chipinge has a minimum of six estates which are involved in plantation agriculture. Some of these companies sit back and relax thinking that they have arrived but nothing is further from the truth.
As long as we are happy with sending raw exports to neighbouring countries, our chances of raising the bar to a middle class economy may remain a pipe dream.
Therefore, we won’t be moving in tandem with the President’s dream.’’
Some analysts believe Chipinge and Checheche could grow into big towns provided industry develops which harnesses the resources.
Mr Lloyd Mhlanga is an agriculture expert with more than 30 years of experience both in the public and private domains.
He said investment in value adding agriculture products would see Chipinge employing a lot of people and the rural service centres dotted around the district could be a springboard to making the sleeping economic giant take its place in the development of the country.
He said: “Coffee used to be grown here.
What’s stopping us from having a factory specialising in coffee products and we export finished products? Macadamia growing is in vogue and we sell the nuts in raw form yet there is more money to be realised if we have industries specialising in value addition coming on board. Sugar is a basic commodity and the rich black soils in the Lowveld can be used to grow sugar cane for domestic use and for export.
We are told electricity can be generated from sugar cane.
Irrigation can empower a lot of people in the valley as the whole area from Kondo to Jack Quinton Bridge is made green with sugar cane, wheat, maize and other crops which are destined for the export market.
The Lowveld needs irrigation to flourish.
For how long should those people rely on food handouts when irrigation could change their lives?’’
Chikore and Mount Selinda areas are in Natural Region 1, where rainfall is abundant and the soils allow orchards to bloom. Ngaone is also in Region 1 and fruits and potatoes do well there.
The mentioned areas’ only problem is the inaccessible roads which link them with Chipinge town.
It is a Herculean task to transport avocado pears, sweet potatoes, pineapples, guavas, yams and maize to markets as the roads are muddy, dusty and hardly allow trucks to get there.
Consequently, transporting agricultural produce is very expensive and that determines the final price.
The private sector must chip in with the rehabilitation of roads.
A local industry which makes flour out of bananas is required and that would render banana growing very lucrative.
Bread made from bananas and macadamia can enhance food security in households and at the same instant harness the rich agriculture crop from the district.
Instead of moving timber to Harare and other foreign destinations, a beneficiation factory can be initiated in Chipinge town with the result that a booming furniture industry and pole making venture can be done close by.
These are achievable projects in the true spirit of devolution as enunciated by President Mnangagwa. Chipinge is agriculture based and it should therefore benefit from the natural resources within it.
Significantly, there is also a likelihood of minerals as the district borders Chimanimani and Buhera where there have been diamond discoveries.
