Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Source: Govt hails millers | Sunday Mail (Local News)

Sunday Mail Reporter

Government has commended millers for bank rolling wheat farming saying the move is long overdue in ensuring increased cereal production and ease strain on the fiscus.

Zimbabwe requires at least 400 000 metric tonnes of wheat for bread making and other flour related confectionaries, but has been producing an average of less than 70 000 in the last 15 years.

Speaking at a recent dinner exhibition gala hosted by millers in Bulawayo, Industry and Commerce Minister, Nqobizita Mangaliso Ndlovu said the coming in of millers was expected to see wheat production rise to 150 000 metric tonnes in the short term period.

“The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has made positive strides to ensure the availability of grains and grain products through various initiatives,” he said

“I am also reliably informed that a technical committee to spearhead wheat contract farming for the next three years has been established and this is truly commendable.

“I was also informed that the expected output for this initiative will be at least 150 000 metric tonnes of wheat.

“The country is spending close to US$100 million in wheat imports annually.”

Minister Ndlovu said the Zimbabwe was currently saddled with importing at least seven months’ wheat requirement annually.

He said it was high time the country got a lasting local solutions for its wheat requirements.

“Command agriculture has shown that, as a country, we have the capacity to solve our pertinent problems,” said the minister,” said Minister Ndlovu.

Last month, GMAZ appointed a National Wheat Contract Farming Committee (NWCFC), chaired by Mr Tafadzwa Musarara to lead the winter wheat contract farming for the next three years.

 

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Matabeleland South residents have accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa of ignoring them during his midweek visit to the province. The residents, his ruling party members and sections of civil servants quickly blamed Mnangagwa’s failure to attend to them on what they called a “weak” provincial party hierarchy and “sleepy” government top executives. Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba […]

Source: Milestone in Harare-Bulawayo dualisation | Sunday Mail (Local News)

Emmanuel Kafe recently in ALASKA, Mashonaland West

Government has completed dualising another 12-kilometre section of the Harare-Bulawayo highway, with work on the road-over-rail bridge after the Norton tollgate expected to be completed in four months’ time.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza said last week President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to commission the road-over-rail bridge once complete.

Government last week assessed progress on current road works in Mashonaland West province.

“We are impressed with the work that is being done in the province. There is a hive of activity in Alaska and here in Norton. Roads are being done.

“This road-over-rail bridge we expect to complete it in four months’ time before it is commissioned by the President,” he said.

Roads that are presently earmarked for rehabilitation and dualisation include the Harare-Nyamapanda, Bulawayo-Nkayi, Bulawayo-Tsholotsho, Kwekwe-Nkayi-Lupane, Murambinda- Berchinough and Buchwa-Rutenga-Sango roads.

“We are doing quite a number of roads throughout the country,” he said.

Engineers who are overseeing the project said contractors were using asphalt concrete on the roads, which is durable.

Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) board chairperson Engineer Mike Madanha said a new committee will be set up to monitor contractors and the assess the quality of road works.

Where a contractor failed to meet the recommended standard, they risk redoing the work at their own expense.

“I am urging the road authorities to hire experts and qualified personnel in road rehabilitation and construction so that we have quality and durable roads.

“After monitoring the roads, if the contractor does a shoddy job, he will redo the roads using his own money. As a new board, we are going to set up a committee that will be monitoring the progress on the ground. This will also see us dealing with corruption,” he said.

He said local authorities are failing to acquit previous allocations.

Zinara has so far released $240 million for road construction and maintenance by local authorities.

This year’s allocation has increased by more than 40 percent compared to last year when only $188 million was disbursed.

Local authorities, however, say volatile prices and bottlenecks in accessing fuel and cement have bogged down progress.

The post Milestone in Harare-Bulawayo dualisation appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: US$500million facelift for Victoria Falls | The Sunday News March 17, 2019

Munyaradzi Musiiwa, Midlands Correspondent 

GLOBAL hospitality group, Marriot International, is set to change the face of Victoria Falls after it agreed to inject USD$500 million into the resort town for the construction of a boutique hotel and a riverside camp.

A boutique hotel is an intimate, design-led property which distinguishes itself from larger chain or branded hotels by providing guests with ultra-personalised service and accommodation.

This type of lodging facility gains its uniqueness through aesthetics, atmosphere, and a level of personalised service that just can’t be found in larger establishments.

Marriot International has partnered a local businessman Mr Aaron Chinhara who is in the petroleum and construction industries.

In an interview, Mr Chinhara said officials from the giant hospitality group are visiting the country tomorrow for a business investment meeting.

He said construction on the project is set to commence next year once they finalise on the modalities and other Government requirements. 

“We have got half a billion dollars worth of investment coming to Victoria Falls. We are starting construction in 2020,  finishing 2022. We want to build a boutique hotel. It is a first concept in Zimbabwe that we are putting up. We are putting a world class hotel for those with more disposable income. 

“To do that there is a need for a proper investment and so we have signed a deal with Marriott International. Officials from the group are coming in on Monday. They will touch down at Victoria Falls International Airport and would be inspecting the areas where the projects are going to take place. There are two projects that they are going to take in Victoria Falls. There is a Boutique Hotel and a Riverside camp which will be a camping site for tourists,” he said.

Mr Chinhara said the Marriot International investors would  be in the country for two days. 

“They are international hoteliers and are operating in various countries in the world. We sold them our ideas and they want to work with us and they will spend two days. It is a business investment meeting,” he said.

Mr Chinhara said the investment would be a game changer in the tourism and hospitality industry and would bring a huge investment.

He said he was confident that President Mnangagwa will support the project as it was in sync with his “Zimbabwe is open for business” mantra  and his 2023 vision. 

“We are appealing to President Mnangagwa for Government support in this project. We are aware of onslaughts being plotted against us but we are willing to engage even the President so that the projects are flawless,” he said.

The investment comes at a time when Zimbabwe is dangling massive tourism investment opportunities to international markets as it seeks to tap into the deep pool of key European markets.

Good times are beckoning for Zimbabwe’s tourism sector after outclassing regional destinations when the country scooped three accolades at the 2019 edition of the Pacific Travel Writers Association Awards held in Berlin, Germany.

Zimbabwe won the Sustainable Destination of the Year, Tourism Minister of the Year and International Woman Achiever of the Year.

The awards recognise excellence of organisations, nations, corporates and individuals who have played outstanding roles in transforming their industries.

The post US$500million facelift for Victoria Falls appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Zim losing $100 million annually importing wheat | The Standard (Local News)

By Staff Reporter

Industry and Commerce minister Mangaliso Ndlovu has said Zimbabwe is losing $100 million annually to wheat imports due to failure by farmers to produce enough stocks.

Officiating at an exhibition gala organised by the Grain Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) in Bulawayo recently, Ndlovu commended millers for venturing into contract wheat farming.

“The country is spending close to $100 million in wheat imports annually to cater for this deficit,” he said.

“A study in 2003 on the bad price indicated that there was a huge deficit in terms of wheat production compared to the nation’s annual consumption, where seven months’ wheat supply was to be met through imports, 16 years down the line we are still faced with the same challenges, if not worse.”

Since 2000, Zimbabwe has failed to produce 400 000 metric tonnes of wheat it needs per year. Authorities cite sanctions imposed by the West on its top brass at the turn of the millennium on allegations of misrule and human rights abuse.

Ndlovu said GMAZ’s initiative would reduce government expenditure.

“Command agriculture has shown that as a country we have the capacity to solve our pertinent problems,” he said.

“I, thus, applaud GMAZ for this initiative which will undoubtedly address the challenge we face.

“This is commendable in that it is purely a private sector initiative and I am a firm believer of locally-generated solutions to the problems we encounter in the nation.

“I wish to encourage GMAZ as well to consider mobilising inputs, farming machinery, promoting and expanding grain farming in the country in all suitable farming districts of Zimbabwe.

“It is also my expectation that the sector can design and promote and support agro extension services for contracted farmers and also to negotiate with government and farmers’ unions on producer prices and subsidies.”

Ndlovu said the milling industry had helped the country secure enough grain during drought periods.

Recently, the Tafadzwa Musarara- led National Wheat Contract Farming Committee was appointed to spearhead the winter wheat contract farming with the target to produce a minimum of 150 000 tonnes annually for the next three years.

The post Zim losing $100 million annually importing wheat appeared first on The Standard.

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