The ManicaPost
Cletus Mushanawani
News Editor
A NUMBER of projects with a potential to change the economic fortunes of the people of Manicaland are at various stages of implementation, The Manica Post Business has established.
According to provincial Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures for the years 2019 and 2020 announced by Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) Director-General, Mr Taguma Mahonde on Monday, Manicaland is ranked fifth after Harare, Bulawayo, Mashonaland West and Midlands.
The provincial GDP stand at Harare ($294,2 billion); Bulawayo ($155,6 billion); Mashonaland West ($132,5 billion), Midlands ($130,2 billion); Manicaland ($103,3 billion), Masvingo ($84,1 billion); Mashonaland East ($76,5 billion); Mashonaland Central ($66,7 billion); Matabeleland North ($60,8 billion) and Matabeleland South $56,3 billion).
Addressing thousands of ZANU PF supporters at a star rally at Dangamvura Ground on Sunday, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga outlined some of the game changing projects that could spur Manicaland’s economy.
The projects include gas manufacturing at Feruka, macadamia nuts production in Chipinge and avocado production in Honde Valley, among other things.
GreenFuel’s expansion will see the energy concern putting 24 000 hectares under sugarcane to produce 220 million litres of ethanol annually.
The increase in ethanol production will result in an increase in power generation, which is expected to shoot up to 32 Megawatts.
“There are a number of projects at various stages of implementation in Manicaland which will create a lot of jobs. We want to ensure that many people, especially the youths, secure employment locally instead of exporting jobs to other countries.
“The ZANU PF-led Government has unveiled a lot of economic emancipation programmes for the betterment of Zimbabweans. We are working towards the attainment of Vision 2030 so that we have an upper middle class economy. We want to eradicate poverty and therefore we should all work hard to attain this vision. No manna will come from heaven, we have to work hard to ensure that the country prospers,” he said.
VP Chiwenga added: “We want to ensure that companies are revived. We are among the leaders in resources per capita in Africa and we should leverage on these resources to improve people’s lives. We should increase our exports so that we generate more foreign currency to ensure economic development.
“We have a lot of projects in Manicaland, among them the Verify Engineering Gas Project. We want to be leaders in producing hydrogen and medical gases as there are a number of countries seeking oxygen gas.
“We have the Arda Katiyo project where vast tracks of land are being put under macadamia and avocado plantations. This will benefit a lot of people in Mutasa District. In the process, we will be decentralising the economic activities to rural areas by opening more processing companies,” said the Vice President.
He hailed ethanol producing giants, GreenFuel, for embarking on its expansion drive.
Apart from ethanol production, GreenFuel also generates green and renewable electricity which is fed into the national grid.
VP Chiwenga also said plans are underway to utilise water from Osborne Dam for electricity generation as well as irrigation purposes. On timber production, VP Chiwenga said Allied Timbers is expanding its Cashel Saw Milling Plant to add value to the timber being grown and produced in Chimanimani.
“This will create employment for local youths and widen business opportunities for timber producers in the district.
“In Mutare, there is Mega Market which is putting final touches on its maize and wheat milling plant.
“The development of the Gemmology Centre in Mutare is set to add value to diamonds and other minerals in the province. All these projects will have a large bearing in people’s lives and as Government we will support them in every way possible,” said VP Chiwenga.
Speaking on the background of the ZIMSTAT report, Mr Mahonde said following Government’s thrust on devolution and decentralisation, the Agency is compiling devolution statistics, including Provincial Gross Domestic Product.
“In response to the demand for devolution statistics by stakeholders, ZIMSTAT released Provincial GDP figures for the period 2012 to 2018. The Agency used the hybrid approach, which was based on data from surveys and administrative sources.
“In compiling the 2019 and 2020 provincial GDP statistics, ZIMSTAT utilised secondary data from Government agencies and surveys which include, among others, the Income Consumption and Expenditure Survey, as well as the Agriculture and Livestock Survey,” said Mr Mahonde.
