Online Reporter
George Maponga-Masvingo Bureau
RUTENGA is positioning itself for town status, driven by the development of a burgeoning industrial park.
Located in Mwenezi District, the park features processing plants focused on sesame, sunflower and paprika, forming a robust industrial base for one of Masvingo province’s fastest-growing urban settlements.
The industrial park is home to facilities that process various products, including beef, goat meat, mutton, body oils, and vegetable oil. These operations significantly contribute to Rutenga’s rapid growth and expansion, creating hundreds of direct and indirect job opportunities in the region.
The growth point enjoys a strategic location along the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway, with close proximity to a railway line that connects to Mozambique’s Chicualacuala border, enhancing Rutenga’s potential for further development.
At the heart of the industrial park is a state-of-the-art multi-processing centre, the flagship investment that processes sesame, paprika, and sunflower, benefiting over 10 000 farmers across Mwenezi.
The paprika is cultivated under irrigation at schemes like Lapache, while sesame and sunflower are grown through contract farming with support from the Italian NGO, Sustainable Agriculture Technology (SAT).
This organisation operates on a business model that ensures sustainability, while engaging communal farmers as out-growers and contract farmers.
Mr Albert Chivanga, the chief executive of Mwenezi Rural District Council, highlighted the importance of the industrial park in Rutenga’s rapid development.
“The multi-processing centre produces a diverse range of products, including vegetable oil, butter, stock feed, and beauty soaps.
“There are around 17 by-products derived from sesame processing, and many of these products are fed into the local market while others are exported,” said Mr Chivanga.
The industrial park has not only enhanced local economic activity, but has also created numerous jobs for young people in the area.
Added Mr Chivanga: “This investment has created jobs for our young people and also put Rutenga on the map as a growth point with a fast-growing industrial base.”
The park includes a modern abattoir that processes beef, goat meat, mutton, and chicken, initially targeting local markets, but with plans to expand into the export market in the future.
In addition, the industrial park houses a training centre for irrigation, jointly managed by Mwenezi RDC, SAT, and Bubi Conservancy.
This centre offers training in essential skills such as water conveyancing and canal construction, equipping students with valuable knowledge and experience.
Rutenga’s prospects for further growth are promising, especially with the potential of the underused Manyuchi Dam.
Presently, the dam irrigates less than 5 000 hectares of cane plantations at Mwenezana Estates, owned by Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe. The availability of abundant water resources could significantly enhance agricultural productivity in the area. Mr Chivanga expressed confidence that Rutenga is well on its way to achieving town status.
“We now have most of the services that warrant us to be accorded town status, especially a vibrant industrial base,” he said.
He indicated that the local authority is diligently working to fulfil the necessary criteria for this designation.
As it stands, Masvingo Province recognises only Chiredzi and Mupandawana as towns, while Masvingo city serves as the provincial capital.
