The ManicaPost
Post Reporters
THREE formerly distressed companies in Manicaland — Dorowa Minerals, Quest Motors and Cacida Katiyo Estate — are reinventing the wheel following their resuscitation by the Second Republic in a positive move that firmly puts the province on course to improve its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the GDP per capita.
A list recently compiled by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Permanent Secretary, Dr Mavis Sibanda, indicates that 13 companies, drawn from across different sectors, have been given new leases of life by the Government in the last three years, culminating in increased production.
Of the 13 companies rescued, three are in Manicaland Province, two are in Harare, two are in Bulawayo, and two are in the Midlands Province; while a company was resuscitated in each of the provinces of Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, and Masvingo.
The resuscitation of Dorowa Minerals has increased its capacity utilisation to 30 percent, producing 50 000 tonnes of phosphate per year.
This translates to 150 000 tonnes of basal fertiliser that cater for about 40 percent of national demand.
Government is in the process of availing US$16 million to revamp the Dorowa Minerals Plant in Buhera, in a strategic move that will boost basal fertiliser production, for both the local and export markets.
The ultimate goal is to upgrade the facility into an all-in-one fertiliser plant, an initiative that fits perfectly into the Second Republic’s devolution thrust — where resources in a particular region must be value-added in situ to boost the locality’s GDP.
The phosphate plant at Dorowa was established in 1965, and the last refurbishment was done in 1973, about 50 years ago.
Dorowa Minerals mine manager, Mr Charles Mangadze said the company is in the process of procuring a new plant for magnetite, which is exclusively exported to Mozambique, using its internal financial resources.
Mr Magadze said they have so far received the bow mill,while the rest of the components are still being manufactured in South Africa.
“We want to put a plant that produces 6000t of magnetite from the current 1 500t we are producing. The total project cost is still being worked on with the manufacturer,” said Mr Mangadze.
Dorowa Minerals is in the process of procuring a new plant for magnetite
He said at 30 percent capacity utilisation, the phosphate plant is producing 50 000 tonnes of phosphate per year.
Mr Mangadze said the first phase of the plant refurbishment needs US$6 million, and will take six months to complete.
It will double phosphate production from the current 50 000 tonnes to 100 000 tonnes per year.
The second phase will require US$5 million and will need three months to complete.
It will increase phosphate production from 100 000t to 150 000t, which is the mine’s full production capacity.
The third and final stage will require another US$5 million.
“I am aware that frantic efforts are being made to allocate us financial resources because it is important for us to embark on Phase One which will enable us to meet 75 percent of the national basal fertiliser demand,” said Mr Mangadze.
A ray of hope is beaming at Cicada Katiyo in Honde Valley which has been resuscitated following the injection of US$10 million from Government.
At least 300 jobs have been created at the previously distressed estate which now boasts 220 hectares of macadamia orchards and 130ha of avocados.
More jobs are expected to be created as the project keeps expanding.
An avocados plantation is expected to cover over 340ha.
Cicada KatiyoEstate manager, Mr Brendon James Scott said they have managed to increase production as well as export of avocadoes sinceits resuscitation.
“Katiyo produced its first fly crop of avocados and we exported 70 tonnes recently. We await sales results. Macadamia are still in bring-to-bear phase,” he said.
MutasaWard 29 councillor, Councillor Winnet Mandipa said job creation is likely to triple in the next six months as the estate keeps employing locals.
The investment compliments Government’s Rural Development 8.0 programme.
The National Development Strategy (NDS1) states that agriculture can lead to rural industrialisation which will in turn lead to rural development.
Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development provincial development officer, Mr Gabriel Jaji said the Honde Valley Tea Growers Association recently secured a foreign investor — Engineers Without Borders (EWB).
“The project is still at embryo stage, and we are still working on the designs with EWB and a consultant. We are anticipating that this project willemploya lot of people in Honde Valley. We expect that the project will be up and running soon and we should be having tea from Mutasa by next year,” he said.
The third company, Quest Motors assembles different types of vehicles, ranging from passenger to light and heavy commercial vehicles.
The company produces buses, trucks, luxury cars and tractors, as well as single and double cab vehicles.
Among the brands Quest Motors assembles are Foton, Zhong Tong, Yutong and Chery.
The company is operating below five percent of its optimum capacity and employs 102 people.
It managed to produce three trucks in March this year.
Quest Motors’ operations manager, Mr Karl Fernandez said he could not talk to the media at the moment.
