Businessman opens $1m quarry plant

A MASVINGO businessman has opened a $1 million quarry processing plant in the country’s oldest town as businesses begin to angle for opportunities that are expected to accrue from the dualisation of the Harare-Beitbridge highway.

The quarry processing plant is run by Summerton Quarry Processing Company, which is owned by war veteran and veteran educationist Cde Benjamin Mazarire.

The plant, which is expected to create 150 jobs, is located about 20km west of the city, along the Masvingo-Bulawayo highway. Speaking during a tour of the plant, Cde Mazarire, who has expressed interest to contest Zanu-PF’s primary elections for the Masvingo Urban parliamentary seat, said the plant will produce 60 tonnes of quarry per day once the newly acquired equipment has been installed.

The businessman said he was eyeing opportunities from the dualisation project.

“I decided to open this plant near Mangwandi Mountain on a claim covering 10 hectares and so far I have poured more than $1 million in this project, which is aimed at making sure Masvingo City and surrounding areas have unlimited supply of quarry stones,’’ said Cde Mazarire.

“So far we have done a test run on the plant machinery, which is producing about 30 tonnes per day, but its full capacity is 60 tonnes, which will be achieved in the near future and we are quite heartened with the positive response from customers of our products, which also includes quarry dust.’’ He said plans were underway to recapitalise operations in order to ramp up production.

“We are happy with economic prospects in the country under the new administration led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and as a businessman, I am quite hopeful that the calls by the Head of State that Zimbabwe is open for business will attract more investors who will further develop our economy,’’ said Cde Mazarire.

The businessman, who is also into gold mining close to the quarry plant, urged the Masvingo business community to exploit advantages that will be created by the imminent road works.

“The move to open this quarry plant was motivated by the looming highway dualisation project and my challenge to other local companies here is that they must not be caught napping and start preparing for the dualisation project because there are many opportunities for enterprising local business people,’’he said.

Zimbabwe, Cde Mazarire said, was on the verge of unprecedented socio-economic transformation under President Mnangagwa’s leadership.

It is believed that the Harare-Beitbridge highway dualisation project will create positive economic spin-offs over the next three years when the highway will be under construction.

Government leaders in Masvingo led by the Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs, Senator Josaya Hungwe, have been exhorting the local business community to take advantage of opportunities that will be brought by the dualisation project, as 40 percent of the project has been reserved for locals.

The main contractor for the road works, Austrian firm Geiger International, has already indicated plans to start work at end of this month.