Online Reporter
Edgar Vhera
Specialist Writer – Agribusiness
THE Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) last Friday hosted a field day spotlighting investment opportunities, progress and potential partnership gaps within the Hunyani Agro-Industrial Special Economic Zone (HAISEZ).
The field day was running under the theme: “From Farm to Industry: Unlocking Zimbabwe’s Agro-Industrial Potential.”
Situated in Zvimba district, Mashonaland West, and measuring 2 600 hectares, Hunyani Estate, has been designated an Agro-Processing Industrial Park, in terms of section 31 of the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency Act [Chapter 14:38].
ZIDA chief investment promotion officer, Mrs Silibaziso Chizwina called on prospective investors to seize opportunities brought about by this project.
“We would like to welcome you to the HAISEZ field day, a different field day in that we are planting a seed rather than witness harvesting of a crop.
“A seed to invest, to transform this designated 2 600-hectare piece of land into something that you probably have never seen before,” she said.
HAISEZ’s application for designation was done in 2022 and was granted last year.
“We visualised what it would look like in the future and we are asking you to take a step back and consider establishing a business, crop production, a logistics hub and maybe even partnering in the design of infrastructure that is going to be put into this space,” she said.
DrumCorp Holdings shareholder, HAISEZ’s owner, developer and operator, Mr Robert Peter Drummond said HAISEZ is a strategic investment destination unlocking Zimbabwe’s agricultural and industrial potential.
“The zone integrates production, processing, value addition, cold chain facilities and export markets within a modern investment ecosystem.
“HAISEZ is designed to attract investment, drive industrialisation, create employment and strengthen Zimbabwe’s position as a competitive agro-industrial hub,” he said.
Mr Drummond said their vision included establishment of export orchards of citrus, avocados and macadamia as well as high-value crops such as blueberries and paprika.
The plan also has poultry, beef genetics and hatchery operations, world-class processing and packaging facilities, a school of excellence developed with Dutch Partners and a 100-megawatt agrivoltaic solar project that allows food and energy production to coexist on the same land.
Minister of Lands and Rural Development, Vangelis Haritatos, who was guest of honour said the establishment of HAISEZ dovetailed with the country’s Vision 2030 objectives wherein rural areas must evolve from subsistence zones into productive economic corridors, capable of attracting investment, generating exports and sustaining inclusive growth.
“The establishment of HAISEZ demonstrates Government’s commitment to building world-class agro-industrial ecosystems that integrate commercial agriculture, agro-processing, renewable energy, logistics and research within a single platform.
“It aligns directly with the Ministry’s responsibilities, which include ensuring secure land tenure, productive land utilisation, and value-chain integration to support rural development,” he said.
Minister Haritatos said his Ministry sought to replicate this type of brownfield across provinces, investment-ready rural industrial hub as SEZs are catalysts for rural transformation, reducing development risk, accelerate investor uptake and create vertically integrated farm-to-market systems capable of supplying regional and international markets.
“The HAISEZ already demonstrates this model by integrating smallholder farmers into commercial horticulture, livestock, and agro-processing value chains through structured out-grower and supply-chain spokes,” he said.
The Minister challenged HAISEZ to develop a 50-year strategic expansion plan that outlines how the SEZ will grow beyond Chegutu into other provinces, rural districts, and emerging agricultural corridors.
“The Ministry stands ready to provide full support for this expansion, including land identification, land-use planning, tenure security and coordination with provincial leadership.
“Through the National Land Use Master Plan and the Cabinet Committee on Rural Development, the Ministry will ensure that SEZ expansion aligns with national spatial development priorities and rural transformation goals,” he added.
Investors will benefit from streamlined facilitation, secure land arrangements, and coordinated support across Government agencies.
