Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo and Victor Maphosa in MUTOKO
ZIMBABWE’s science and innovation-driven academic revolution remains the bedrock of its long-term strategy towards lifting many citizens out of poverty into prosperity, President Mnangagwa said yesterday.
Addressing thousands of people while commissioning the Mutoko Bioeconomy Industrial Park, the President said the industrial park stood as a symbol of the fruits of the Second Republic’s knowledge reforms.
“Here, we are, therefore, witnessing the outcome of the Second Republic’s continuous investment in research, science, technology, innovation and basic education of high quality, which are all essential ingredients for sustainable national development.
“The Heritage-Based Education 5.0, is enabling our great motherland to build a knowledge-based economy, driven by our own people,” he said.
Land has been set aside within the industrial park for manufacturing infrastructure and agricultural research, among many other activities.
As it continues to expand and develop, the facility is designed to become an integrated industrial complex, comprising a cooking oil plant, a soap manufacturing plant and a biodiesel refinery, as well as stock-feed and milling facilities.
Such establishments, the President said, had become centres for independent innovation, where scientific research was the driving force of the ongoing industrial development agenda.
“The power of economic empowerment, especially for those in rural areas, is directly in the hands of our citizens. Employment creation through increased production and productivity, as well as value chain development, will continue to be core priority areas for our ZANU PF-led Government,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said no nation, in its development agenda, could neglect the quality of its education system, more so given the correlation between rising educational standards and sustained national progress.
“In line with this fact, my Administration introduced the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 model, which prioritises national development, anchored on the production of goods and services, by our citizens.
“The unveiling of this project comes at the right time in our nation and will help enhance local production and self-sufficiency as well as aid in the import substitution thrust,” he said.
The cooking oil plant at the industrial park is expected to produce about 1,8 million litres of cooking oil a year, which the President said will go a long way towards satisfying local demand.
Glycerine will also be produced as a by-product to make soap, among other products.
As such, President Mnangagwa said ZANU PF was delivering.
President Mnangagwa waters a tree he planted after commissioning the Mutoko Bioeconomy Industrial Park, while Higher Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Dr Frederick Shava (fourth from left, Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Advocate Itayi Ndudzo (third from left) and other Government officials look on. – Picture: Memory Mangombe.
“ . . . we are a party with a rich history; ZANU PF is a party with a vision for a more prosperous future, for all our people. No one and no place will be left behind.
“Musangano wedu weZANU PF une muono weremangwana rinounza budiriro kuvana vese veZimbabwe,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said in keeping with ambitions set out in the Livestock Growth Strategy, sunflower cake from the industrial park will be added to supplies from established mills.
“This is set to create a wider pool of high-quality livestock feed and further stimulate growth in the broader agriculture value chain industries. I am assured that the Mutoko bio-diesel plant will produce biodiesel from jatropha and other oil plants such as castor.
“This is welcome, with regards supplementing local energy solutions and the required through-put into the feed-stock industry, especially that jatropha is locally produced by the farmers, here in Mutoko,” he said.
The President challenged responsible ministries to work with relevant stakeholders, including the private sector, to ensure that the plant makes the much-needed contributions to meet the nation’s fuel demands, in a manner similar to that of sugar-cane.
Zimbabwe now blends petrol with 20 percent ethanol derived from sugar cane grown in the lowveld.
Furthermore, President Mnangagwa called upon the private sector and other stakeholders to support the plants at the Bio-Economy Industrial Park, including vibrant out-grower schemes for cultivating sunflower and growing Jatropha.
“These must extend across other appropriate agro-ecological regions, beyond Mashonaland East and Central provinces. Local authorities in both rural and urban areas are once again directed to avail land for industrialisation.
“We should not procrastinate on this matter but urgently and deliberately put in place the right ecosystem to realise the aspirations we have pronounced,” he said.
The bulk of construction works at the facility, as well as the machinery installation, were executed by students from Masvingo Polytechnic, Harare Polytechnic, and apprentices under the Industrial Trade Testing Department.
“Well done. Makorokoto. Amhlophe,” said President Mnangagwa to the apprentices.
“Your good work shows that the Heritage Based Education 5.0 model is a success and that indeed, Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatigwa nevene vayo/ ilizwe lakhiwa, likhu-le-ke-lwe ngabanikazi balo”.
He said under the Integrated Skills Expansion Programme, the higher education sector had trained significant numbers of local youths during the construction phase of the project, thereby delivering tertiary education to those previously marginalised.
“These young citizens from the community now possess skills and qualifications previously deemed out of reach. They are poised to enter the workforce or become entrepreneurs, to better their livelihoods, transform local communities and subsequently the national economy as a whole,” President Mnangagwa said.
The President greets Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Zhemu Soda (second right) on arrival in Mutoko yesterday as Vice President Dr Kembo Mohadi (left), Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira (third right), Lands and Rural Development Minister Vangelis Haritatos (right) and other Government officials look on.
The participation of students from the country’s institutions of higher learning in construction works, equipment management, research and production will provide practical exposure, while also contributing to the modernisation and industrialisation of Zimbabwe.
“I challenge the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, to continue deploying the systems-thinking framework that saw the timely completion of this project,” said President Mnangagwa.
“I equally call upon stakeholders in the sector to accelerate the full commercialisation of research outputs, start-ups and inventions being churned out by institutions of higher learning.
“Ndinotenda madzimambo ose, nekutsigira ma projects eHurumende nekubatsira kwenyu kusimudzira maruwa edu”.
He said Government looks forward to the full development of the industrial park and Nyakadecha Estate, which will provide the jatropha feedstock and employ many more people in the production of throughput for the plant.
“This is sustainable development and dignified wealth creation for our communities unfolding here in Mutoko. Congratulations to you all,” said the President.
He said that by 2030, the Second Republic envisions the replication of the model in all the other eight rural provinces.
“Service shops should equally be set up within our communities and townships to secure access to affordable, made-in-Zimbabwe goods and products for our people.
“Under the Second Republic, Zimbabwe is rising. We are marching forward. Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatigwa nevene vayo / Ilizwe lakhiwa, libuswe, likhu-le-ke-lwe ngabanikazi balo,” said President Mnangagwa.
He emphasised the importance of unity in nation-building, while asserting that “ZANU PF is the only party with the people and communities at heart”.
“Ngatirambei takabatana, tichishanda nesimba, murunyararo, tichidzivirira Nyika yedu kubva kuvavengi. Ngatitevedzere tsika dzedu, tidzidzise vana vedu tsika nehunhu hwedu hweZimbabwe.
“The work ahead is great; however, in unity and peace, the development we desire for present and future generations will be realised. ZANU PF is the only party with the people and communities at heart. We deliver on the promises we make. We deliver on our decisions and resolutions,” he said.
President Mnangagwa commended the large numbers of ZANU PF supporters who attended the official opening.
“Ndinokutendai mose nekuwuya kwenyu kuno kuzo tsigira ma projects eHurumende yedu ye ZANU PF. Rutsigiro rweyu rwe Musangano wedu rwuno kudzwa. Murimusvo we Musangano,” he said.
Also in attendance were Cabinet Ministers, Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet Dr Martin Rushwaya, senior Government officials, Service Chiefs and traditional leaders.
