adminMartin Kadzere Senior Business Reporter
ZAGRINDA, a tomato canning company, has completed refurbishment of its plant in Norton and operations are expected to start in February next year, an official said. Zagrinda is owned by Arda and the Development Trust of Zimbabwe on a 50-50 percent shareholding basis. The project is the brainchild of the late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo. The company entered into a partnership with Schweppes Zimbabwe to revive the factories, including another one in Esigodini in Matabeleland Province, which will come on stream later. About $2,2 million was invested for refurbishment of the two plants.
“Zagrinda (Norton) is now ready for production,” Arda chairman Mr Basil Nyabadza said yesterday. “We are starting with the minimum intake of 100 tonnes tomato per day, but we will still not be near the market requirement.”
Zagrinda has already secured the export market for tomato paste, but will only satisfy 50 percent of the demand.
For the Norton plant, Mr Nyabadza said the company has contracted tomato farmers in 10 districts, including Kadoma, Chegutu, Zvimba, Bindura, Macheke and Mazowe. In Esigodini, tomato farmers from about five districts will also be contracted.
“A vibrant out grower programme is the cornerstone of these projects,” said Mr Nyabadza. Meanwhile, Mr Nyabadza said Arda has successfully revived 21 estates in eight province this year. “All the estates are now showcasing economic activity both livestock and cropping,” he said.
The estates were revived under Public Private Partnership arrangements. He said the authority was also in discussions with prospective investors for value addition projects.
Since dollarisation, Arda invested about $600 million in various projects through PPPs. Arda, a State-owned company owns 22 estates and some of its household estates include Katiyo Tea Estates Arda Transau Estates which was allocated to diamond mining companies operating in Marange to relocate families affected by their activities.
Arda also owns Chisumbanje Sugarcane Estates where it built a multi-million dollar ethanol plant, Green Fuel, its biggest investment since the adoption of multi-currency system.
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