Mwenezi women launch ground breaking oil processing project, exhibit at ZITF

IN a ground-breaking rural industrialisation project for Mwenezi District in Masvingo province, a group of women have established a thriving oil processing company, Robestos Products, which is among the local businesses exhibiting at the ongoing Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo.

Established in 2017, the young business is into oil processing and seeks to serve the wider domestic market.

The bold innovative venture is set to revolutionise the local industry and provide new opportunities for economic growth, through the empowerment of young girls and women.

Robestos specialises in the processing of different types of cooking oil flavours from various nuts and is headed by three women, Tendai Makore, Loveness Nyakura and Nancy Murira.

The company has invested in state-of-the-art technology and equipment to produce high-quality oils for a variety of purposes.

From cooking oils to cosmetic oils, this new manufacturing company is poised to meet the diverse needs of consumers in Masvingo and beyond.

“The company was initially conceived as an agro-enterprise, we then moved to processing and manufacturing of essential oils in 2023.

“This was because we had seen the plight of women in accessing cosmetic oils in some parts of the country,” said Ms Makore, one of the project champions.

She said the establishment of the oil manufacturing company was a triumph for women in business, showcasing the entrepreneurial spirit and leadership capabilities of female entrepreneurs in the region.

“It serves as a powerful example of how women can excel in traditionally male-dominated industries, breaking barriers and shattering stereotypes along the way,” said Ms Makore.

The company has a plant in Mwenezi District in Masvingo, where the cosmetics oils are processed and another plant in Chipinge where consumable oils are also processed.

“We use different types of nuts in our consumable product range such as pecan, cashew, macadamia nuts and sesame seeds.

“The processing plant is in Chipinge where these nuts are mostly found. This is where the extraction and processing of the oils is done,” she said.

“The same story can be said for the cosmetic oils such as Mongongo, Ximemia, Baobab and Mafura oils that are extracted from different plants and seeds that are profound to this region.”

Ms Makore said the company was also into food processing and distribution of food products processes such as butter and honey products.

“We also have butter and honey products such as Marula nut butter, garlic-infused peanut butter, macadamia butter and Moronga-infused butter. We strive to be all-encompassing and want to be a vibrant and life-changing company,” said Miss Makore.

Robestos Products, which is showcasing for the first time at the 64th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair is seeking to launch its products into the local and international market.

Ms Makoni said they were excited to build a higher market profile and were eager to expand consumer base and experience through high-quality oils that will soon be available across the country.

With a strong focus on innovation, sustainability and customer satisfaction, the female-owned company is poised for success in the competitive world of oil manufacturing.

“The establishment of this oil manufacturing company is a testament to the ingenuity and determination of women in business and a shining example of the limitless potential for growth and success in Masvingo,” she said. “The future is bright for this pioneering company and the community eagerly anticipates the positive impact it will have on the local economy,” she said.