Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
GWERU City Council is diversifying its revenue base through commercial farming and other business ventures, with profits from its investments helping to finance municipal services and infrastructure projects while easing pressure on residents to fund local authority operations.
Through Go Beer Farming (Private) Limited, the local authority is producing winter wheat and maize for the national market, generating income beyond traditional revenue sources such as rates and water charges.
Council spokesperson Ms Vimbai Chingwaramusee said the local authority had increased its winter wheat hectarage from 40 hectares in 2025 to 43 hectares this year as it seeks to expand its commercial farming operations.
“As a local authority, we are expanding our revenue base through commercial farming and other business ventures, using profits from the investments to support service delivery and reduce pressure on residents who have traditionally borne the burden of municipal rates and water bills,” she said.
Ms Chingwaramusee said council had also planted 40 hectares of maize during the 2025/26 agricultural season, with the crop developing under irrigation.
“The maize crop is in very good condition and is receiving normal irrigation cycles. What we produce is for national consumption and we sell our maize and wheat output through the Grain Marketing Board,” she said.
Council revived its farming activities during the 2023/24 agricultural season as part of efforts to diversify its income streams and strengthen its capacity to finance municipal operations.
The venture operates under Go Beer Farming (Private) Limited, a business unit unbundled from the revived GoBeer Breweries to establish an independent income-generating operation for the local authority.
Ms Chingwaramusee said proceeds from the farming operations were already contributing to service delivery, with profits generated during the 2026 season helping to finance the procurement of a refuse collection truck and the rehabilitation of the Cambridgeshire sewer ponds.
“The profits being generated from our farming activities are augmenting council’s efforts in service delivery. During the 2026 season, part of the profits assisted in the procurement of a refuse truck as well as the rehabilitation of the Cambridgeshire sewer ponds,” she said.
Beyond agriculture, council is pursuing other commercial initiatives, including a solar energy project, clothing manufacturing and quarrying, as it seeks to broaden its income base and create employment opportunities.
Ms Chingwaramusee said the ventures were intended to strengthen council finances and generate additional resources for essential services amid growing demands for road maintenance, reliable water supplies, waste management and infrastructure rehabilitation.
“By investing in productive business ventures, the local authority is seeking to generate additional income to complement revenue collected from residents and businesses, while directing part of the proceeds towards essential municipal services,” she said.
Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association director Mr Cornelius Selipiwe welcomed council’s involvement in wheat production, saying it gave the local authority a commercial role while contributing to national food security.
“As a residents’ association, we commend the local authority for its participation in wheat production, adding a commercial dimension to its operations. They are turning available land and farming infrastructure into a source of income while contributing to national grain supplies,” he said.
Mr Selipiwe said farming and other business ventures could complement existing revenue streams and help finance municipal services.
Zimbabwe harvested more than 600 000 tonnes of wheat from 122 146 hectares in 2025, achieving an average yield of about 5,2 tonnes per hectare.
For the 2026 season, the Government set a target of 662 500 tonnes from 125 000 hectares, supported by irrigation development and dedicated electricity supplies for winter wheat production.
Midlands Province targeted 12 000 hectares under winter wheat this season, with provincial agricultural authorities reporting that the target had been exceeded. The final planted area, however, is yet to be confirmed.
Harvesting of the 2026 winter wheat crop is expected to continue until December.
