Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo
Herald Reporter
SPECIAL Economic Zones are increasingly serving as the “fast lane” for accelerated industrialisation and economic growth, President Mnangagwa has said.
Commissioning the Davipel Holdings headquarters, agrimilling, stockfeed and snack manufacturing plants at Sunway City Special Economic Zone in Harare yesterday, the President said his administration remained firmly committed to building a diversified, competitive and export-oriented economy.
This would ride on value addition and beneficiation.
“Our country’s hardworking people remain a critical national asset. Success stories such as the one evident here, show that Zimbabwean entities possess the capacity, skills and innovation necessary to accelerate the industrialisation and economic development agenda in pursuit of Vision 2030.
“The celebrated accolades of the new crop of entrepreneurs are being etched in our country’s rich economic and development history,” President Mnangagwa said.
The President last visited the wholly Zimbabwean owned company in 2018 when he commissioned its then US$12 million manufacturing facility.
Production capacities being showcased at this industrial complex are impressive, with regards total tonnes of stock-feeds produced per hour.
Similarly, the maize milling division produces a wide range of products and cereals under the Sunny brand, while the snacks division manufactures the popular Jumbo corn snacks with an installed production capacity of about 5 000 tonnes a month.
President Mnangagwa said such investments strengthened the resilience of domestic manufacturing, reduced imports, increased value addition and created sustainable employment for Zimbabweans, particularly women and the youth.
“I commend Davipel Holdings for the integrated approach to multiple manufacturing value chains under one enterprise.
“Through its multiple corporate divisions for snacks, stock-feed, maize milling and freight services, the company is creating strategic synergies that improve productivity and help strengthen our national food security,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said policy consistency remained an essential ingredient for sustaining industrial growth.
As such, Government, through the ‘whole of industry ecosystem approach’, would continue creating a conducive business and policy environment that rewarded productivity, encouraged value added exports and multi-pronged investments.
“The transformation and growth of the manufacturing sector, industry and commerce call for a proactive approach to regulation and monitoring,” President Mnangagwa said.
He said his administration had three important national policy instruments, which were mutually reinforcing to consolidate industrial and economic transformation.
These are the Zimbabwe National Industrial Development Policy-2 (2026-2030); Consumer Protection Policy (2026-2030) and Local Content Strategy.
“The frameworks reaffirm my Government’s commitment to ensuring a modern, diverse, regionally integrated and globally competitive economy,” said President Mnangagwa.
Under the Second Republic, he said, Zimbabwe’s Industrial Policy-2 aligns with NDS-2, and sets out targets to grow manufacturing output from the current US$7 billion to US$12 billion.
“Through collaboration and unity of purpose, I am confident that the manufacturing sector is able to realise annual growth of above 5 percent; increase exports to US$1 billion and raise industrial capacity utilisation to 75 percent,” President Mnangagwa said.
“These benchmarks were set by you, the stakeholders in manufacturing, hence you must deliver. More so that the targets are not merely economic statistics, but signify expanded employment opportunities, stronger enterprises, higher incomes and improved quality of livelihoods for our people.”
The Local Content Strategy (2026-2035) is poised to be a key pillar to support increased production, value addition, innovation and export growth.
Towards this end, the President said it was his expectation that the strategy would strengthen local value chains in strategic sectors such as pharmaceuticals, fertilisers, iron and steel, textiles, leather, cement, packaging, automotive products, furniture and consumer goods.
“When my Government enacted the Consumer Protection Act in 2019, we laid a firm legal foundation for protecting consumers.
“Since then, the Consumer Protection Commission has been established, operationalised and decentralised into provinces, towards ensuring greater access to consumer protection services,” he said.
“The roll out of the Consumer Protection Policy (2026-2030) is timely and further complements our Industrialisation Agenda by safeguarding consumer rights, promoting fair markets and entrenching public confidence in locally produced goods and services.”
President Mnangagwa said under the Second Republic, industrial transformation was no longer a vision confined to policy instruments, but now a reality, evident through the establishment and growth of entities such as Davipel Holdings.
“Together, as Government and the private sector, let us continue to expand synergies, innovate and consolidate partnerships for increased production and productivity that will benefit the economy and people of our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe.
“I once again congratulate the proprietors of this company for the good work we have witnessed here and call on more entrepreneurs to follow this commendable example,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said the journey of Davipel Holdings reflects entrepreneurial vision, resilience, steadfast determination and strong and unwavering patriotism.
“I congratulate the founders, Mr and Mrs Norupiri, along with your team, for a job well done. Your entity is an exemplary test case in our ongoing industrialisation journey.”
He said the current positive growth trajectory was a testament to “our development mantra ‘Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatigwa nevene vayo/ Ilizwe lakhiwa, libuswe, likhu-le-ke-lwe ngabanikazi balo.’”
President Mnangagwa commended Turkish companies for their strategic and successful partnerships, including with Davipel.
“My administration stands ready and welcomes greater investments from Turkey for technology transfer as we modernise to improve production efficiencies in the manufacturing sector and scale up value addition and beneficiation,” he said.
The President challenged Davipel to speed up the envisioned establishment of stock-feed distribution depots across the country.
That aligned with the present devolution and decentralisation thrust and improved access to agriculture inputs, among other key products, by communities and smallholder farmers.
“I, further, urge you to partner other emerging entrepreneurs and set up subsidiary manufacturing entities in our provinces and districts in line with the rural industrialisation drive,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said it was reassuring that Sunway City Special Economic Zone now housed more than 40 enterprises, and is emerging as one of Zimbabwe’s premier industrial hubs.
“Zimbabwe is open for business and I invite more companies to take up space within our special economic zones, among other strategic development corridors.
“The trade agreements and protocols should be equally leveraged to expand exports across the SADC region, African continent and beyond.
“Zimbabwe must continue to position itself as a manufacturing hub, while playing its part to enhance regional integration, transform markets for sustainable growth, and strengthen partnerships for shared prosperity,” President Mnangagwa said.
Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu said yesterday’s opening and commissioning was a celebration of enterprise and resilience.
“Above all, we are celebrating the vision of the Second Republic under the leadership of our guest of honour,” he said.
Minister Ndlovu said the President had given the country a wakeup call to increase production and productivity.
“The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has indeed heeded the call to action you challenged us during the recently held Zimbabwe Industrialisation Conference and Expo, which brought to light the fact that our country continues to import approximately 2,5 billion US dollars worth of products that can be manufactured locally,” he said.
Harare’s Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Charles Tavengwa said the commissioning was testament to the President’s mantra.
Davipel chief executive officer Mr Davison Norupiri said the President’s presence was a powerful endorsement of the role the private sector plays in economic growth.
Vice Presidents Dr Constantino Chiwenga and Dr Kembo Mohadi, as well as Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet Dr Martin Rushwaya, Cabinet Ministers and captains of industry were in attendance.
