adminFreedom Mupanedemo
Midlands Bureau
REDCLIFF-based tar and agricultural products manufacturer Zimbabwe Chemical Refineries (Zimchem) has set sights on the export market after increasing its production capacity to 55 percent, thanks to the enabling environment under the Second Republic.
Recent statistics show that Zimchem’s capacity rose from about 40 percent to 55 percent, and is now producing 30 tonnes of road tar per day, against the country’s daily consumption of 10 tonnes.
Apart from tar, the firm also manufactures agro-chemicals as well as household and industrial chemicals used for water purification.
Zimchem general manager Mr Tendai Shoko said the company was now exporting pitch and creosote to Zambia and South Africa.
“As a company, we are glad that the Second Republic has come to our rescue in terms of capacitating our production,” he said. “We are currently exporting 1 000 tonnes of pitch to South Africa, 600 tonnes of furnace fuels and 500 tonnes of creosote to Zambia for timber treatment, monthly.”
Mr Shoko said the company had also increased its workforce, creating more employment opportunities as production at the company continued to grow.
Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Owen Ncube said it was encouraging that there were companies doing well even under challenging economic conditions brought about by the illegal sanctions on the country.
The Second Republic would continue to work on capacitating companies for the country to achieve its vision of an upper-middle-income economy by the year 2030.
“The manufacturing sector is earmarked to contribute at least 25 percent to GDP and be a major source of job creation,” said Minister Ncube.
“The Second Republic is working towards attaining an upper to middle-class economy by 2030 through private sector-led economic recovery and growth.”
Minister Ncube reiterated President Mnangagwa’s call that Zimbabwe was open for business and urged other industries in the province to work hand in glove with the Government for one common vision.
“Zimbabwe is indeed open for business; we have witnessed this at Zimchem.
“The refurbishment of the tar manufacturing plant which is now complete will see production increase,” he said.
“Apart from chemical manufacturing, the company also manufactures tar for domestic use on our roads and exports the same to neighbouring countries.”
The Second Republic is on a massive drive to capacitate local entities to promote import substitution.
Online Reporter