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Business Reporter
MWANA Group, Managing Director, Dr Kuda Mutenda was last week awarded the most active and supportive individual in the metals castings industry at the just-ended metal casting and engineering summit and awards.
The awards ceremony which the Zimbabwe Institute of Foundries organised, in conjunction with Dinson Iron and Steel Company, sought to award individuals who excelled in metals Value Addition and beneficiation.
Dr Mutenda heads Mwana Group, an automotive solutions company that currently manufactures car filters for diversified small to heavy industrial vehicles.
The group has taken it upon itself to become a competitive centre of excellence in vehicle filter manufacturing, a testimony that Zimbabweans have what it takes to excel in the automotive industry.
Dr Mutenda, who is also the founder of Mwana Group, has extensive experience in the automotive industry having traversed countries like Japan, Germany, India, and Brazil working for notable brands like Mercedes Benz, Mitsubishi, and Freightliner.
He came to set up Mwana Group in April 2019, the company now assembles filters for any equipment that uses engines including trucks, busses, earthmoving and farming machines.
Mwana Group was also recognised for outstanding efforts in corporate social responsibility initiatives as it supported Zimbabwe’s biggest Schools Rugby tournament, The President’s Schools Rugby Cup in August 2023.
In April 2024 Mwana Group will also be hosting the Mwana Group International Schools Rugby Festival at Prince Edward School, the biggest schools rugby festival with over 100 schools participating.
Speaking after receiving the award, Dr Kuda Mutenda indicated that he is very confident that Mwana Group’s foundry will be a game changer in the SADC region’s motor industry.
“Zimbabwe carries high potential to scale up its automobile industry performance, by becoming a hub of manufacturing Excellency for selected components that are required in the assembling of motor vehicles worldwide.
“I humbly accept the awards from the Zimbabwe Institute of Foundries, as a vote of confidence in our dreams, aspirations, and goals as a Zimbabwean Company. We are extremely excited about the future,” said Dr Mutenda.
Mwana Group also has plans to roll out the first Foundry 100 percent dedicated to the manufacturing of metal car components that include brake discs, brake pads, pistons, and engine blocks in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe Institute of Foundries chief operating officer Mr Dosman Mangisi said Mwana Group’s drive was a plus to the country’s goal of import substitution particularly that of motor vehicle parts.
“We recognized several individuals who are in the areas of metal value addition and beneficiation. Mwana Foundry has identified a gap in the local automotive industry and now manufactures vehicle filters, which is very important.
“This is a plus to the import substitution drive, vehicle components in this case. We should shun a development where containers and containers of car parts are being imported into Zimbabwe,” said Mr Mangisi.
Through Statutory Instrument 89 of 21, the government has crafted a course of action that is pushing for more investment in the motor industry, it is one of the key pillars that will grow support towards a viable industry.
According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) in 2020, parts and accessories were the 21st most imported product in Zimbabwe.
In the same year, the total import bill for motor vehicles, parts, and accessories stood at $44, 8 million making Zimbabwe the 117th largest importer of motor vehicles, parts, and accessories globally.
The event was held under the theme of value addition and beneficiation of metals – developing local markets for metal casting and engineering.
Online Reporter