Online Reporter
Samuel Kadungure and Ray Bande
THE two strategic projects commissioned by President Mnangagwa last weekend will enhance distribution of essential medicines and health commodities in rural areas, and strengthen the agro-industrial value chain, create new jobs and reduce the import bill, positively contributing to the growth of the provincial Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
President Mnangagwa last Saturday had a hectic schedule as he commissioned the new National Pharmaceutical Warehouse and Mega Market Milling Plant in Mutare.
The newly established US$6,96 million NatPharm warehouse, located adjacent to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital, was built by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Fund.
The projects demonstrate investor confidence in Zimbabwe’s economic trajectory, and are expected to stimulate economic growth, create employment opportunities, and improve the country’s manufacturing sector.
The projects align with the country’s development agenda – Vision 2030, and are anticipated to have a significant positive impact on the provincial economy and GDP.
President Mnangagwa said the new NatPharm Warehouse facility in Mutare, Manicaland Province is a significant milestone in the country’s concerted efforts to enhance access to essential medicines and healthcare services, especially in rural areas.
President Mnangagwa said the facility attests to his Government’s commitment to facilitate reliable access to essential medicines and health commodities, crucial in reducing mortality and morbidity, improving population health, and supporting the health delivery system.
President Mnangagwa commended the warehouse’s strategic location along the Beira Corridor, presenting opportunities for increased efficiencies to reduce supply bottlenecks, benefiting Manicaland and the entire nation.
“Since 2018, there has been a 56 percent increase in the number of pharmaceutical entities from nine in 2020, to the current 14. I challenge the Government, private sector, institutions of higher learning and development partners to scale up collaboration so that we add on to the current plans we have.
“A viable health sector is, not only an indicator, but also a precondition and outcome of the social and economic sustainable development. My administration is currently implementing programmes and projects that will guarantee us a full range of quality and affordable health services where people need them physically for the most vulnerable in our communities. The Mutare NatPharm Warehouse facility, which we are commissioning today, attests to my Government’s current progress to facilitate reliable access to essential medicines and health commodities. These are crucial in reducing mortality and morbidity, improving population health and supporting the health delivery system,” said President Mnangagwa.
The NatPham facility, equipped with an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, will improve medical supply distribution across Manicaland, serving over 335 health facilities, including clinics and hospitals, as envisioned under the National Development Strategy (NDS1).
The warehouse stores medicines four times more than the old warehouse, housing about 3 100 pallets of medicines, with advanced inventory management systems and state-of-the-art equipment.
President Mnangagwa tasked the Ministry of Health and Child Care to ensure that the construction of similar warehouses in other provinces proceeds according to plan, significantly improving operational efficiency in accessing medicines and enhancing universal health coverage.
NatPham managing director, Mr Newman Madzikwa said the new warehouse will strengthen medical supply infrastructure and improve the medicines supply chain in the country.
“The warehouse is well located in the eastern border, closer to Mozambique, where we receive most of our commodities through the Beira Corridor.
To respond faster to distributing commodities, we have designated this facility as our redistribution hub. We will send our trucks to various warehouses more quickly, rather than routing consignments through Harare first. Products meant for the southern region will be rerouted via Birchenough Bridge to Masvingo and Bulawayo, ensuring faster delivery. This warehouse will also address Manicaland’s local needs. The previous facility was too small to meet the province’s demands, and we are pleased with this new facility,” he said.
The Mega Market Milling Plant, a US$25 million investment, will strengthen the agro-industrial value chain, create new jobs, reduce the import bill, and contribute to Gross Domestic Product growth. The plant will produce flour, maize meal, and other products, catering to local and regional markets.
President Mnangagwa commended Mega Market, for its role in the country’s industrialisation drive and employment creation.
“I congratulate Mega Market for the success milestone since they entered Zimbabwe’s business arena. The decision by the Government to confer National Project Status to this entity is now paying dividends. I would like to thank the board, management and staff of Mega Market for the focus and hard work that resulted in the meticulous implementation, strategic planning, culminating in the establishment this additional investment. The investment by Mega Market in the Flour Milling Plant comes at an opportune time when our country continues to realise mega wheat harvests. Growing milling capacity is of great significance. This investment will therefore yield enormous economic benefits within the province and Zimbabwe at large. These include the creation of new jobs as well as contribution to the reduction of the import bill and GDP growth. It is impressive that as Mega Market, you have lined up multimillion dollar projects. You can count on my Government to give you the requisite support,” said President Mnangagwa, underscoring Government’s commitment to the industrialisation drive.
“Under the Second Republic, our country has been characterised by accelerated mordenisation and industrialisation. Since 2018, the opening up of the economy as well as implementation of vast pronged reforms and transformative practices has resulted in rejuvenation of all sectors of the economy. Additionally, the support of scientific research and innovation driven industrial growth continues to be prioritised. Undoubtedly, we are now an economy brimming with rapid development. The manufacturing sector, in particular, has seen increased capacity utilisation, and an ever expanding industrial base both in terms of diversity and size,” he said.
Mega Market managing director, Mr Shiraan Ahmed said the company remains committed to make further investments to boost the agro-industrial value chain.
Speaking during the commissioning of the mill, Mr Ahmed said:
“Your Excellency, on Mega Market’s side, I am pleased to announce that this is just the beginning. Given the implementation of the Africa Free Trade Agreement and the growing local demand, we have a number of multimillion-dollar projects in the pipeline.
“Just last month, we signed a Youth Empowerment Agreement with Empowerment Bank, in conjunction with the Ministry of Youth. Through this programme, Mega Market will supply over 5 000 young people with products on consignment, creating pathways for entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency. This is fully aligned with your goal of achieving a middle-income economy by 2030. We believe every young Zimbabwean deserves a pathway to dignity, productivity, and national contribution. Where our youths rise, our industries thrive, and our flag flies high across borders. You have our full commitment: we will not stop. We will do everything within our control.
“Your Excellency, I am pleased and excited to announce that we have partnered with the City of Mutare to reforest the Danganvura Mountains, covering 200 hectares. We intend to complete the planting of the initial 10 000 saplings within the next three months. We are also mobilising additional funding to extend this programme – with the goal of reforesting all the mountains surrounding Mutare. This is our commitment to future generations, to climate resilience, and to the beauty of our Eastern Highlands,” said Mr Ahmed.
