adminPatrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
A TEAM of Italian engineers has arrived in the country to rehabilitate the multi-million dollar tomato processing equipment that has been lying idle at three Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda) estates.
The equipment acquired through the late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo and the Development Trust of Zimbabwe (DTZ) was allowed to gather dust in Norton, Esigodini and at Balu Estates instead of furthering his interests of ensuring that the country’s economy was self-sustaining.
DTZ is a national independent trust whose main thrust is to foster development at national level.
Addressing members of the Gweru Press Club on Wednesday evening, Arda board chairman, Basil Nyabadza, said the equipment was sourced from Italy hence the decision to bring in engineers from that country.
“I am pleased to announce that Joshua Nkomo’s industrialisation vision, the empowerment vision is coming to fruition because the Italian engineers are in the county to fix the equipment in Norton, Esigodini and at Balu Estates in Umguza,” said Nyabadza.
He said the tomato processing project was going to take off now adding that modalities had been put in place to secure funding from private players.
“We are going to benefit from the project as there is great demand for tomatoes in Namibia’s fishing industry. That’s a ready market,” said Nyabadza.
The machinery includes electric motors, storage tanks, piping material, steamers, mixers and various farming implements like tractors, harvesters and sorting machines.
Meanwhile, Nyabadza said 600 hectares of land have been put under irrigation at Antelope Arda Estate in Maphisa, Matabeleland South.
He said about 3,000 hectares of land will be under irrigation by next year.
“We have 600 hectares of land under irrigation in Maphisa right now. And next year we want to open 3,000 more hectares and put wheat and maize. Through irrigation Maphisa is going to supply the region with cereals,” said Nyabadza.
He said public-private partnerships were the way to go adding that the 10-point plan unveiled by President Mugabe should be embraced by progressive Zimbabweans since it encourages partnerships.
A few months ago Arda invited private players to partner it in reviving its 21 estates which are dotted across the country. Nineteen estates are now fully functional as Arda moves to ensure food security in the country.
Online Reporter