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Victor Maphosa-Mashonaland East Bureau
President Mnangagwa’s vision for rural industrialisation is shaping up across the country with the significant investment in granite cutting and polishing in Mutoko a testament to his commitment to value addition and beneficiation.
For years, Zimbabwe’s granite was exported in its raw form, but thanks to the President’s insistence on adding value locally, the country is now reaping the benefits.
This initiative is part of the country’s modernisation and industrialisation drive, which focuses on developing linkages across key sectors like agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and services.
Last week, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland East Dr Aplonia Munzverengwi toured the Rich Basin granite stone processing plant in Mutoko where she expressed satisfaction with the cutting and polishing of granite stone at the firm.
The company is involved in cutting, polishing and designing granite stones for local and international markets.
Daily, the company cuts and polishes about 70 tonnes of granite at their state-of-the-art factory located about 3km from Mutoko centre along the Mutoko-Nyadire road.
Addressing the media soon after the plant tour, Minister Munzverengwi said the investments being witnessed across the province are a result of the ease-of-doing environment that has been ushered by President Mnangagwa.
“Let me start by thanking President Mnangagwa for his engagement and re-engagement drive and the ease of doing business which has seen an influx of investors coming even to the countryside of Zimbabwe.
“This is rural industrialisation. We are witnessing a huge investment in granite cutting and polishing. As you may know, for a long time our granite was going out of the country and exported in its raw form. However, President Mnangagwa insisted on value addition and today these are the results. This kind of investment is also a result of his engagement and re-engagement drive.
“You can see there is a lot of activity where cutting of different sizes and shapes and designing is being done. They also manufacture tiles here. So we are now exporting polished granite and we are saying since they are now polishing about 70 tonnes of granite per day, we are now surely adding value to it. It is no longer being exported in its raw state. So as a province, we are saying to President Mnangagwa thank you and these are the results of your engagement and re-engagement initiatives,” she said.
Minister Munzverengwi said the huge investment translates to an increase in the gross domestic product (GDP) of the province.
Speaking to the media soon after the tour, Rich Basin Human Resources and Liaison Officer Mr Singadi Maridzanye said they intend to expand.
“This company focuses on cutting and polishing granite stones. We started in 2021 and we have developed since then. Whatever amount we get from this project, we inject it back into it so that we can grow.
“We are appealing to the local authority to avail more land for us to expand our operations. We are exporting to Poland, China, Germany and the United States of America among other international markets. We also supply the local market. We thank the Government for the continued support.”
Online Reporter