daniel chigunwe
SWAN Valley Group has launched seven new stock-keeping units (SKUs) of finished cigarettes, marking a significant expansion of the company’s footprint within the Zimbabwean market.
The new cigarette flavours introduced during the launch include Swa Toasted, Swan Menthol, Swan Classic Capsule, Swan Red, Swan Blue, Reign Toasted and Reign Menthol.
The latest product roll-out is part of Swan Valley Group’s ambitious journey to redefine excellence in the local tobacco sector.
Established in January this year, the Swan Valley Group’s vision is to become Zimbabwe’s premier fully indigenous-owned tobacco value chain company.
Swan Valley Group managing director Mutemwa Ushewokunze said:
“In just 11 months, we have already made significant strides. We have hired 31 employees, creating much-needed jobs in our community.
“We have acquired two state-of-the-art manufacturing lines to ensure the highest production standards. We have built the only fully fledged state-of-the-art lab ensuring quality delivery and we have invested in a primary processing machine, which we look forward to commissioning in 2025.
“These achievements are a testament to the commitment, vision, and hard work of the Swan Valley team, and they demonstrate our determination to transform Zimbabwe’s tobacco value chain.
“Today marks an exciting chapter in tobacco products and our journey as we unveil seven SKUs.
“These products symbolise not just our ability to innovate but also our intent to compete as a locally owned, independent producer in an industry that is vital to Zimbabwe’s economy.
The mantra, “From Seed to Smoke,” embodies their belief in creating value at every step, ensuring that Zimbabwe retains and maximises the benefits of its world-renowned tobacco.”
The Minister of Industry and Commerce Nqobizitha Ndhlovu said this is part of Vision 2030.
“In line with the National Development Strategy (NDS) 1, Swan Valley has made significant investment exceeding US$15 million and is now part of our structural transformation drive through value addition.
“Government launched the Zimbabwe Industrial Reconstruction and Growth Plan (ZIRGP) 2024-2025, with the aim to realise sustainable manufacturing sector growth.
“Swan Valley, through its Seed to Smoke Strategy, will contribute immensely to the realisation of the goals of the plan.
“The company’s backward integration approach supports farmers while enhancing processing capabilities, ensuring that the full value of Zimbabwe’s tobacco remains within our borders.
“This initiative resonates very well with our national aspirations of reducing reliance on raw exports and establishing Zimbabwe as a hub for high-value tobacco products.
“Government remains committed in its drive to foster private sector growth initiatives.
“Policy support to market access, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model is yielding tangible benefits, as seen in the success of companies such as Swan Valley,” he said.
Minister Ndhlovu said the tobacco industry is a cornerstone of our economy, contributing more than 10 percent to the country’s GDP and supporting the livelihoods of 160,000 households.
“With export earnings reaching US$1 billion by October 2024. Swan Valley’s entry into manufacturing will strengthen this trajectory by contributing to tax revenue through excise duties and value-added tax, thereby enhancing the Government’s fiscal position.”
Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Vangelis Haritatos said the launch bears testament to the success of the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan.
“The tobacco crop annually supports 160000 households while at the same time accounting for more than 50 percent of agricultural export and 25 percent of agricultural GDP.
“This is on the back of the successful land reform programme that saw a shift in the production dynamics from a situation in 1998 were over 1500 large scale commercial farmers produced 239 million kgs of tobacco to the current state were the primary producers are predominantly smallholder farmers who constitute 855 of the current grower bases.
“This makes tobacco production a central and essential catalyst for accelerated rural development.”
He said the transformation strategy was primarily driven by the fact that as a country we have only scratched the surface in terms of realising the true and full potential of this sector.
“This is a colossal giant that needs to be awakened and simple calculations will show that the global tobacco industry is US$850 Billion and Zimbabwe produces 6 percent of the world’s tobacco.
“This means that theoretically our sector should be valued at US$51 Billion and yet we are hovering around US$1 billion.
“Therefore, the ultimate aim of the transformation strategy is to increase tobacco production to 300 million kgs by 2025 and simultaneously transform the value chain into a US$5 Billion industry through exports of tobacco value added products.”
Swan Valley Group was established in January this year with a bold and ambitious vision: to be Zimbabwe’s premier fully indigenous-owned tobacco value chain company.
Comprising three subsidiaries – Swan Valley Tobacco, Swan Valley Processing, and Swan Valley International, the group is designed to be an end-to-end player in the tobacco industry.
From growing the finest tobacco, processing it, and manufacturing finished products, to ensuring they reach consumers within and beyond Zimbabwe, Swan Valley is a brand that promises quality, innovation and sustainability.
Online Reporter