Online Reporter
Fungai Lupande-Mashonaland Central Bureau
THE Mvurwi Town Council is seeking up to US$5 million in private investment to develop modern tobacco auction facilities and housing projects as the area’s booming tobacco industry outpaces existing infrastructure.
The rapid growth of tobacco marketing has transformed the Mashonaland Central farming town into one of Zimbabwe’s busiest tobacco trading centres, but congestion, inadequate warehouse space and a shortage of accommodation are emerging as major constraints to further expansion.
Town auditor Mr Tafanana Chirikumarara said Mvurwi now hosts nearly 16 tobacco auction floors, yet only two operators own purpose-built warehouses, forcing the majority to operate from temporary and unsuitable premises.
“The tobacco sector has grown much faster than the available infrastructure. We now have congestion in the central business district because many auction floors are operating from places that were never designed for that purpose,” he said.
To address the challenge, the council has earmarked industrial land for the construction of modern tobacco auction complexes and is inviting investment through public-private partnerships, joint ventures and private sector financing.
The proposed development, estimated to require between US$3 million and US$5 million, will comprise at least four modern auction floors equipped with warehouses, loading bays, internal roads, administration offices, security systems and waste management infrastructure.
“The land has already been planned, subdivided and title surveyed. Some of the stands have already been advertised and we are ready for investors,” said Mr Chirikumarara.
He said demand for additional tobacco infrastructure was assured, with auction operators regularly approaching the council in search of suitable operating space.
“At the moment, we are even accommodating two tobacco auction floors at council offices because there is nowhere else for them to operate. That alone shows the demand that exists,” he said.
Bongani Ndlovu