Online Reporter
Edgar Vhera
Specialist Writer – Agribusiness
THE Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) has reached an agreement with Transvaal Africa to develop an integrated export ecosystem that positions Zimbabwean produce on the global market.
Transvaal, a Zimbabwean company specialising in aviation infrastructure construction and logistics, recently secured an air service permit.
In a landmark public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement poised to transform Zimbabwe’s agricultural landscape, the two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Harare recently.
The partnership, which directly supports the country’s Vision 2030 goals, National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and the Agricultural Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy (AFSRTS) 2025, is already taking root with a series of joint activities aimed at aligning production, aggregation, and logistics for export readiness.
A highlight of the collaboration is the ongoing construction of a cargo village and cold chain facility at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport by Transvaal Africa.
This world-class hub will provide sorting, grading, packaging and storage solutions tailored specifically for horticultural and other perishable exports. AMA and Transvaal Africa recently toured Mazowe Citrus Estates, one of Zimbabwe’s oldest citrus farms, to assess production capacity and determine the support needed to scale operations.
The visit forms part of a broader campaign to identify aggregation points and align farmer production with export demand.
AMA acting chief executive officer, Mr Jonathan Mukuruba, said the partnership was a game changer.
“It will create a reliable export corridor for Zimbabwean farmers, backed by infrastructure that ensures quality, compliance and timely access to markets.
“The visit to Mazowe Citrus Estates is part of our mapping strategy to identify high-potential producers whose output can feed into this export system,” he said.
Next on the partnership’s roadmap is a visit to Gokwe, where President Mnangagwa recently commissioned 40 Village Business Units (VBUs), community-based agro-processing hubs aimed at stimulating rural industrialisation.
AMA and Transvaal Africa are exploring how to integrate these VBUs into the national export chain by providing training, aggregation platforms and guaranteed offtake through the cargo village model.
“The Gokwe VBUs present a unique opportunity to link grassroots production with premium markets. By building capacity at that level and connecting it with cold chain infrastructure, we can unlock real rural transformation,” said Mr Mukuruba.
Transvaal Africa chief executive officer, Engineer Patson Moyo, emphasised the company’s commitment to inclusive growth and long-term sustainability.
“We are not just building infrastructure; we are creating an ecosystem,” he said.
Bongani Ndlovu