President Emmerson Mnangagwa is this week expected to commission the Finealt Bioeconomy Industrial Park in Mutoko, a landmark project designed to accelerate rural industrialisation, promote value addition and beneficiation, and create sustainable economic opportunities for local communities.
The industrial park is among the first flagship projects under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which prioritises rural industrialisation and value addition as key drivers of Zimbabwe’s transformation into a diversified, manufacturing and export-oriented economy by 2030.
Developed by Finealt Engineering, an agency under the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, the integrated industrial hub comprises biodiesel, cooking oil and soap manufacturing plants, with a stockfeed processing plant to be added during the next phase.
Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Professor Fanuel Tagwira, said the project is a practical demonstration of Heritage-Based Education 5.0, which seeks to harness Zimbabwe’s local resources, innovation and research to drive industrial development.
“This is a very important project which answers to Heritage-Based Education 5.0. It also answers the call for rural industrialisation of our economy,” said Professor Tagwira.
He said at least 20 000 households in Mashonaland East Province would be contracted to grow sunflower, providing raw materials for the processing plants while creating employment and increasing household incomes.
“At least 20 000 households in Mashonaland East are going to be contracted to grow sunflowers to support the plant. There will also be jobs created in processing, creating significant employment opportunities for local communities,” he said.
Professor Tagwira said the project would significantly reduce Zimbabwe’s dependence on imported edible oils, helping the country save more than US$300 million annually in foreign currency.
“Zimbabwe spends about US$300 million annually importing crude cooking oil. This project seeks to exploit the entire sunflower value chain, reduce that import bill and save foreign currency,” he said.
Finealt Engineering Acting Chief Executive Officer, Patrick Mpala said the biodiesel, cooking oil and soap plants had been designed as an integrated manufacturing system that maximises value from every stage of production.
“The biodiesel plant, soap-making plant and cooking oil plant are all integrated. The cooking oil plant produces soap stock, while the biodiesel plant produces glycerine, both of which become raw materials for soap manufacturing,” said Mpala.
Beyond manufacturing, the project has also empowered local communities through skills development, with residents trained in bricklaying, plumbing and other construction trades during the development of the industrial park.
Professor Tagwira said the Mutoko Bioeconomy Industrial Park would become a model for similar projects across the country.
“Once this project succeeds, our aim is to cascade the model to other provinces using the natural resources found in each region,” he said.
