President Emmerson Mnangagwa has called on the private sector and other stakeholders to invest in the Mutoko Bio-Economy Industrial Park and support its growth through out-grower schemes, saying stronger partnerships are essential for accelerating rural industrialisation, creating jobs and increasing local production.
Speaking during the official commissioning of the Finealt Engineering Mutoko Bio-Economy Industrial Park on Thursday, the President said the initiative should be expanded beyond Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central to other suitable agro-ecological regions across the country.
“I call upon the private sector and other stakeholders to support plants at this Bio-Economy Industrial Park, including through vibrant out-grower schemes for cultivating sunflower and growing Jatropha. These must extend across other appropriate agro-ecological regions, beyond Mashonaland East and Central provinces,” he said.
President Mnangagwa also directed local authorities to prioritise industrialisation by allocating land for manufacturing, processing and other productive investments.
“Local authorities in both rural and urban areas are once again directed to avail land for industrialisation. We should not procrastinate on this matter but urgently and deliberately put in place the right ecosystem to realise the aspirations we have pronounced,” he said.
The President commended students from Masvingo Polytechnic, Harare Polytechnic and apprentices under the Industrial Trade Testing Department for their contribution to the construction of the industrial park and installation of machinery, describing their work as a practical demonstration of the success of the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 model.
“Your good work shows that the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 model is a success and that indeed, Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatirwa nevene vayo,” he said.
He said the Integrated Skills Expansion Programme had empowered many young people from the Mutoko community with technical skills during the construction phase, equipping them for employment and entrepreneurship.
“These young citizens from the community now possess skills and qualifications previously deemed out of reach. They are poised to enter the workforce or become entrepreneurs to better their livelihoods, transform local communities and subsequently the national economy as a whole,” he said.
President Mnangagwa challenged the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development to accelerate the commercialisation of research, innovations and start-up enterprises emerging from universities and polytechnics to enhance industrial development.
He said Government expects the full development of the industrial park and the Nyakadecha Estate, which will supply Jatropha feedstock while creating additional employment and business opportunities for local communities.
“This is sustainable development and dignified wealth creation for our communities unfolding here in Mutoko,” he said.
The President reiterated Government’s commitment to replicating the rural industrialisation model throughout the country, saying similar Bio-Economy Industrial Parks are expected to be established in all eight provinces by 2030.
“By 2030, we envision the model of rural industrialisation being replicated through the establishment of other Bio-Economy Industrial Parks in all eight provinces of our country. Service shops should equally be set up within our communities and townships to secure access to affordable made-in-Zimbabwe goods and products for our people,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said the commissioning of the Mutoko Bio-Economy Industrial Park reflects the Second Republic’s drive to transform Zimbabwe into an industrialised, innovation-led upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
“Under the Second Republic, Zimbabwe is rising. We are marching forward,” he said.
