Johane Marange Apostolic Church High Priest, St Nimrod Taguta, has unveiled a US$3 million multi-purpose energy and travel facility in Headlands, expanding his business interests into the energy, retail, hospitality and automotive service sectors.
The six-hectare Taguta Energy Facility and Travel Plaza, officially commissioned by Finance Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, has created 70 jobs and is expected to stimulate commercial activity along one of Zimbabwe’s major transport corridors.
The complex comprises a fuel service station, supermarket, restaurant, accommodation facilities, truck stop, vehicle fitment and wheel-balancing centre, hardware outlet and modern ablution facilities.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Minister of Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Dr Kudakwashe Tagwirei, commended St Taguta for channeling indigenous capital into productive investments that support employment creation and national economic development.
He said the project reflected President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s development philosophy of “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo”, which calls on Zimbabweans to take a leading role in developing their country.
Dr Tagwirei noted that St Taguta had diversified his investments into several sectors, including education, manufacturing, brick moulding, quarrying, agriculture and energy.
“This investment of more than US$3 million is among the finest of its kind in Zimbabwe. It is not only creating jobs but providing essential services and stimulating economic activity. Such projects encourage more Zimbabweans to invest locally and contribute to national growth,” he said.
Prof Ncube commended the church for complementing its spiritual mission with investments in business and education, revealing that it had established approximately 70 schools across the country.
He also welcomed plans to expand the facility’s fuel storage capacity, saying this would improve fuel availability for farmers, support agricultural productivity and create additional employment opportunities.
The Finance Minister said sustainable economic development should be anchored on responsible business practices and values such as honesty, discipline, family unity and social responsibility.
He further applauded the growing range of Taguta-branded products, including peanut butter, cooking oil, bottled water, rice, soap and jam, saying the development of local brands was essential for promoting value addition and strengthening domestic enterprises.
Developed between February and October from the former Halfway House, the complex incorporates Taguta Service Station, Taguta Eatery, Taguta Grocery and Taguta Fit and Go.
Manicaland Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza and Zanu PF Provincial Chairman, Tawanda Mukodza, welcomed the investment, saying indigenous projects of this nature were critical to employment creation, community empowerment and the realisation of Vision 2030.
