Online Reporter
Fungai Lupande
Mashonaland Central Bureau
A US$650 000 investment by Panvet Mining is accelerating industrialisation and value addition in Mashonaland Central Province, with the company expanding its lime processing operations in Mazowe District.
The investment came into focus during a media tour led by Permanent Secretaries for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Mr Nick Mangwana and Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mr Timothy Maregere, on Wednesday.
Both officials described the project as a practical demonstration of the Second Republic’s drive towards beneficiation, industrialisation and rural economic transformation.
Speaking after touring the plant, Mr Mangwana said the investment reflects Government’s vision of ensuring that the country moves away from exporting raw minerals and instead creates value locally through processing and manufacturing.
“This project demonstrates the importance of beneficiation and value addition as key pillars of economic growth,” he said.
“What we are witnessing here is the transformation of raw materials into higher value products that create jobs, stimulate local economies and contribute towards the attainment of Vision 2030,” he said.
Mr Mangwana said the emergence of industries such as Panvet Mining in rural communities was evidence that the country’s “Zimbabwe is Open for Business” policy was yielding tangible results.
The company, which began as a transport business in 2018 before venturing into mining in 2020, has grown from producing agricultural lime to manufacturing products for a wide range of industries, including agriculture, water treatment, paint manufacturing, tile adhesives, livestock feed and rubber production.
Chief executive officer Mr Kudza Tagwira said the company had deliberately pursued beneficiation to maximise returns from local mineral resources.
“We started with agricultural lime using ball mills, but as demand from industry grew, we invested in micronisers to produce finer products for paint companies, stockfeed manufacturers and tile adhesive producers,” he said.
Mr Tagwira said the company was now installing a granulator to produce lime used in the manufacture of Compound D fertiliser and plans were underway to launch its own fertiliser brand next year.
He revealed that the company was also preparing to venture into stockfeed manufacturing and tile adhesive production as it broadens its value chain.
“Instead of exporting raw minerals, we want to produce finished products locally and create more jobs for Zimbabweans,” he said.
Panvet Mining employs 144 workers, the majority drawn from surrounding communities in Mazowe District.
Mr Tagwira said the company was working closely with the Environmental Management Agency to ensure sustainable environmental management practices.
Despite the growth, he identified erratic electricity supplies and competition from imported lime products, particularly from Zambia, as some of the major challenges facing local producers.
However, he expressed confidence in the future of the sector, revealing plans to establish Zimbabwe’s first hydrated lime plant to support water treatment and industrial processes while reducing imports.
The Panvet tour formed part of a wider media programme showcasing development projects across Mashonaland Central Province, including infrastructure projects at Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE), health facilities at Makaya Clinic and educational infrastructure at Zvitokwe Primary School, some of which were built through public-private partnerships.
Mr Maregere said the projects being showcased were evidence of Government’s commitment to inclusive development and the policy of leaving no one and no place behind.
“The province has recorded significant investments in infrastructure, education, health, agriculture and industrial development aimed at improving livelihoods and driving economic growth,” he said.
He added that the initiatives reflect the Government’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable development while ensuring that no community is left behind.
“The projects are also contributing towards the achievement of Vision 2030 under the leadership of President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa,” he said.
