Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the horticulture industry by lowering the cost of doing business and promoting export-driven growth.
This follows a visit by Vice President General (Retired) Dr Constantino Chiwenga last Friday to several horticultural and tea estates in Manicaland Province, including the Matanuska Banana Estate in Burma Valley.
The tour is part of ongoing efforts under the Horticulture Recovery and Growth Plan, which seeks to revitalise the sector and expand its export contribution.
Addressing stakeholders after the tour, VP Chiwenga said reducing the tax and regulatory burden on farmers was a key Government priority.
“The farmers have constructed their dams, but we are noticing that they are paying high taxes, whereas they have put up the dams for them to irrigate. The levies are extraordinarily high. We are trying to remove these unnecessary levies for the ease of doing business. Some are being overlevied. This is now a frustrating expansion prospect,” he said.
He also stressed that the horticulture sector has the potential to surpass current national targets, driven by innovation and investment from private players.
“The private sector has a lot of ideas which are very innovative, very progressive, to grow this industry, but what I have discovered from Beitbridge to where we are today is that we can exceed the targets set for the horticultural sector,” he said.
“We have visited orange, banana, and avocado estates. They can beat that target, which is set, and this can be done once we get their ideas, see where their problems are, and assist them in solving them.”
Matanuska Banana Estate, which partners with outgrowers in Burma Valley, exports about 60 percent of its produce to South Africa.
A representative of Matanuska Farms, Richard Chivandire, said the Vice President’s visit had strengthened their focus on expansion.
“The visit by the Vice President has been an eye-opener. We have ambitious targets to contribute towards the country’s horticulture recovery plan. Our plan is to scale up our banana turnover eight times over the next five years,” he said.
Banana outgrower, Lorraine Mabuto said the partnership model has enhanced productivity and market access.
“We partnered with Matanuska because that’s the way to go in line with Government’s joint venture initiative. We were not productive because we didn’t have the knowledge on how to grow bananas. We have also benefited from ready markets facilitated by Matanuska,” she said.
VP Chiwenga also toured tea estates in Chipinge District, noting that tea remains a reliable export crop for Zimbabwe.
The visit forms part of Government’s broader efforts to monitor agricultural and industrial progress, ensuring ongoing projects drive economic growth and improve livelihoods.
