Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Source: Govt urged to increase funding at ARDA – herald

Theseus Shambare recently in MAPHISA

PARLIAMENT has called for increased resourcing of the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority to enable the State-owned landholder to fully use its estates and expand food production.

An oversight visit to ARDA Antelope Estate in Maphisa, Matobo District, Matabeleland South, by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development observed strong wheat production at the estate last Friday, where ARDA planted 633 hectares of winter wheat expected to yield above eight tonnes per hectare.

Committee chairperson, Felix Maburutse, said the performance at Antelope Estate demonstrated ARDA’s capacity to independently drive large-scale agricultural production while supporting Zimbabwe’s strategic grain reserve.

He said the Government should prioritise resourcing ARDA estates so that they operate at full capacity and complement efforts by private farmers and smallholder producers in ensuring national food security.

“ARDA has good capacity to use all their estates on their own. What we would advise Government is to resource ARDA so that they can operate with their estates at full capacity while at the same time assisting our small farmers,” said Maburutse.

The production levels being achieved at Antelope Estate were evidence that State-owned farms could play a critical role in transforming Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector.

“On this farm, if you are talking of getting seven tonnes and above per hectare, that is a very good figure to talk about in serious business,” he said.

ARDA Matabeleland regional agronomy manager Mr Ndodana Ncube said the estate had planted 633 hectares of wheat and planting was completed on April 18.

The crop was already approaching maturity, and harvesting was expected to begin at the end of next month.

“We are optimistic that we are going to reach above eight tonnes per hectare, which will be a massive contribution towards the strategic grain reserve from ARDA Antelope Estate,” said Mr Ncube.

He attributed the strong crop performance to favourable conditions, including adequate water supplies following good rains received last season and improved irrigation reliability.

Antelope Dam was full, allowing the estate to irrigate without restrictions throughout the season.

“This year we were lucky because we received rain up to late April. Some of the wheat that was planted in April germinated through natural rainfall, and that moisture remained adequate as a reserve in the soil,” he said.

With Zesa now supplying power without load shedding, irrigation farmers are assured of keeping their systems going.

Faults were attended to very quickly.

“Most wheat-growing farms in Matabeleland South were ring-fenced such that whenever there was a fault, communication was made to ZESA and the response was quick,” he said.

Maburutse said ARDA’s partnerships with private investors through joint ventures were also improving production across the authority’s estates.

He, however, noted that Antelope’s performance showed that ARDA had the capacity to operate independently and maximise production from its own land.

“Joint ventures are good, but ARDA has proved it can plant 633 hectares on its own, which is encouraging,” he said.

The visit formed part of an eight-day committee oversight tour of ARDA estates and supported farms across Zimbabwe’s eight rural provinces.

The post Govt urged to increase funding at ARDA appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Seed companies target Botswana, Namibia markets – herald

Conrad Mupesa

Mashonaland West Bureau

LOCAL seed companies are targeting lucrative markets in Botswana and Namibia, with the just-ended 102nd Mashonaland West Agricultural Show providing a platform to explore new export opportunities and strengthen regional agricultural cooperation.

The participation of senior government officials from Botswana and Namibia at the annual agricultural showcase in Chinhoyi has opened avenues for increased trade, investment, technology transfer and skills exchange between Mashonaland West Province and the two countries.

The agricultural show ran from last Monday and ended on Saturday.

Seed producers said they were encouraged by the interest shown by farmers from Botswana and Namibia in local seed varieties, particularly drought-tolerant and short-season crops suited to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.

Zadzamatura senior agronomist Mr Blessing Hatidane said the company’s participation in regional engagements was part of efforts to position Zimbabwean seed products for export markets.

“The participation of Botswana and Namibia broadens market access for our agricultural products,” he said.

Agricos senior agronomist Mr Mayor Mushati said the company was also exploring opportunities to expand into Botswana and Namibia.

“With forecasts pointing to another dry season, we are encouraging farmers to invest in pasture production to ensure adequate feed for livestock,” he said.

“We are exploring taking our seeds to Botswana and Namibia.”

The push into the two markets comes as Mashonaland West strengthens existing regional partnerships, including cooperation with Namibia’s Kavango East Region.

The region’s Governor Mr Julius Hamunyeara said they were keen to deepen collaboration with Mashonaland West through agricultural skills transfer and technology exchange.

“We are committed to strengthening cooperation through skills transfer, lecturer and student exchange programmes with Gwebi Agricultural College, as well as sharing modern farming technologies,” he said.

The Namibian delegation also expressed interest in partnering with Geo Pomona to establish waste management plants in Rundu and Divundu, highlighting opportunities for cooperation beyond agriculture.

Botswana Ambassador to Zimbabwe and Malawi, Sarah Sithabile Molosiwa, said stronger regional cooperation would help improve food security and unlock greater economic opportunities.

“Regional cooperation is the foundation of sustainable development. Botswana has a lot to learn from Zimbabwe’s agricultural expertise, and through collaboration we can strengthen food security, improve production and unlock greater trade opportunities for our two countries,” she said.

The regional engagements were showcased at this year’s Mashonaland West Agricultural Show, which attracted a record 157 exhibitors, up from 120 last year, reflecting growing interest in the event as a platform for business networking, investment and commercial partnerships.

Chinhoyi University of Technology public relations manager Dr Shadreck Nembaware said the institution was exhibiting agro-processing innovations developed under the Education 5.0 philosophy.

“Chinhoyi University of Technology is exhibiting agro-processing innovations developed under the Education 5.0 philosophy. We are demonstrating how research and innovation can transform agricultural produce into value-added products that create jobs and industrial growth,” he said.

Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Marian Chombo said the growing regional engagement reflected the success of Zimbabwe’s engagement and re-engagement policy.

The post Seed companies target Botswana, Namibia markets appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Upgraded Sally Mugabe neonatal unit boost for newborns’ survival – herald

Sekai Manyere

THE upgrading of maternal and neonatal facilities at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital is expected to strengthen the country’s efforts to reduce newborn deaths and improve the quality of maternal healthcare, Government has said.

The development follows the handover of a renovated neonatal unit, a refurbished kitchen, and a newly constructed maternity admissions waiting shed, all funded by the Turkish government through the Turkish International Cooperation Agency (TICA), in partnership with the Zimbabwe National Zakat Fund (ZIMNZAF) and the Johane Masowe Echishanu.

Speaking at the handover ceremony last Friday, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora, who was represented by Deputy Minister Sleiman Kwidini, described the project as a significant investment in the country’s public health delivery system.

“These strategic infrastructure investments are more than just bricks and mortar. They are vital injections into our public health system,” he said.

Minister Mombeshora stated that the upgraded facilities would enhance maternal and neonatal care while improving patient comfort, dignity and safety.

He noted that although the country had made remarkable progress in reducing maternal mortality, neonatal deaths remained a major public health concern, underscoring the need for continued investment in newborn care services.

“Sally Mugabe Central Hospital recorded more than 22 650 deliveries and cared for about 3 000 critically ill new-borns last year alone,” he said.

“The first 28 days of life are the most critical period in a child’s survival.”

Zimbabwe has reduced its maternal mortality ratio from 651 to 137 deaths per 100 000 live births.

However, the neonatal mortality rate remains high at 37 deaths per 1 000 live births.

Minister Mombeshora said the improvements were aligned with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and Vision 2030, which prioritise investment in healthcare infrastructure and improved access to quality health services.

He urged hospital management to institute routine maintenance programmes to preserve the facilities and maximise their lifespan.

“I urge the hospital leadership to implement routine preventive maintenance programmes so that these facilities continue serving future generations,” he said.

Turkish Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ms Berna Versteden said the project demonstrated Türkiye’s commitment to supporting maternal and child healthcare services in Zimbabwe.

“This project contributes directly to the well-being of mothers and their babies. It is a humble, yet tangible contribution to improve healthcare service delivery at the busiest maternity unit in Zimbabwe,” she said.

Ms Versteden said the Turkish Embassy had also expanded scholarship opportunities in medicine for Zimbabwean undergraduate and postgraduate students as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

Zimbabwe National Zakat Fund national director Sheikh Henry Balakazi said the first phase of the project included the renovation of four neonatal wards, the hospital kitchen, and a waiting area for mothers and visitors.

He said the interventions were designed to improve the hospital environment and reduce infections associated with ageing and deteriorating infrastructure.

According to Sheikh Balakazi, TICA provided US$20 768 for construction materials, while Johane Masowe Echishanu contributed more than US$6 000 towards labour costs.

The renovations included plumbing and electrical repairs, carpentry work, painting, retiling, refurbishment of hospital beds, and the provision of 41 new mattresses.

Mr Balakazi said the project was implemented under a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Health and Child Care to support national health priorities and improve outcomes for mothers and newborns.

“To us Muslims, doing works that benefit the general public is a duty as well as an act of worship for which we get blessings from the Almighty God,” he said.

The post Upgraded Sally Mugabe neonatal unit boost for newborns’ survival appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Beitbridge citrus plant sets sights on export markets – herald

Tapiwanashe Mangwiro

Senior Business Reporter

A US$25 million citrus processing plant commissioned in Beitbridge is positioning itself to become a regional export player, supplying juice to Schweppes Zimbabwe while pushing into markets across southern Africa.

The plant, run by Orangeville, was established in the border town in 2024 with an initial US$20 million outlay. A further US$5 million has since been added, and the company is now eyeing a total investment of up to US$40 million as it scales up production capacity.

Orangeville has been certified to supply Schweppes – a step the company describes as a milestone in local value addition, turning raw citrus into a finished product rather than shipping fruit out unprocessed.

Beyond juice, the plant’s processing lines extract orange essential oil for the cosmetics industry and convert citrus residue into livestock feed pellets, giving the operation two additional revenue streams beyond its core juice business.

The company currently employs about 350 people, some 60 percent of whom are seasonal workers tied to the citrus harvesting calendar.

Management expects that number to grow to at least 1 500 within five years, as a planned 5 000-hectare citrus estate near Beitbridge comes into production and secures the plant’s own fruit supply.

That expansion matters for the export push. Company officials say inconsistent supplies from surrounding growers – many of whom sell to higher-paying buyers – together with high transport costs, remain the biggest constraints on output.

“By bringing more fruit production in-house, alongside an expanding contract farming programme, we aim to smooth out those disruptions and give the plant more predictable volumes to work with as it builds export relationships,” the company said in a statement.

Water security has also been built into the plant’s design, with about 40 percent of its supply drawn from Zhove Dam – a hedge against Zimbabwe’s forecast dry season and the kind of climate risk that can disrupt export commitments.

Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Albert Nguluvhe, toured the facility last week and said: “Government’s role is to help the province produce enough for domestic demand and export.”

He said dry conditions forecast for the season meant investments needed also to support livestock farmers and broader food systems, and encouraged Orangeville to diversify into fodder production during dry spells.

The project is also being framed as part of a wider push to lift Matabeleland South’s contribution to national economic output, with officials linking agro-processing investment directly to strengthening the province’s ability to meet both domestic demand and export requirements.

Orangeville’s location gives it a logistical edge for that ambition. Beitbridge sits on one of southern Africa’s busiest trade corridors, linking Zimbabwe with South Africa and providing road access into wider regional markets – a factor the company is banking on as it looks to move processed citrus products beyond Zimbabwe’s borders.

The plant has not yet disclosed volumes. Orangeville says production and export figures for the current harvest will only be released once harvesting is complete, meaning the true scale of its regional ambitions will become clearer in the coming months.

For a town historically known mainly as a transit point for cross-border trade rather than manufacturing, the plant gives Beitbridge an industrial base of its own – one explicitly built with export markets, not just the domestic beverage industry, in mind.

The post Beitbridge citrus plant sets sights on export markets appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

CHITUNGWIZA — The smell of charred wood and melted plastic still hangs heavy in the air of Unit N, a bustling suburb in the heart of Chitungwiza. For many, this house was a shrine to a musical legend, a place where the echoes of the “Smoko” sound once resonated. But today, the home of the […]

The post Fire destroys late musician System Tazvida’s house as men take turns to drool over his beautiful widow Barbara Mabuyaye first appeared on My Zimbabwe News.