All eyes on the economic cherry
ZIMBABWE has adopted a holistic approach to ensure sustainable economic growth and improvement of people’s livelihoods as the country works towards achieving an upper middle-income economy in the next decade.
The Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), whose first phase runs from October 2018 to December 2020, is a concrete and comprehensive plan to restructure, rebuild and reform the economy, thereby putting it on the path to steady economic growth in line with Vision 2030.
In a speech read on his behalf by Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri during a tour of Tanganda Estates in Chipinge last week, President Mnangagwa said increasing the country’s export earnings remain one of the key priorities in resuscitating and growing the economy.
“To achieve this, we are cognisant of the need for a holistic appreciation of all sectors of the economy, including the agriculture sector and the associated agriculture value chain industries.
“Well-coordinated policy support, from the farm to the processing plant and to the final domestic and international markets, is now imperative. In addition, it is also important to have seamless co-operation among those in the primary, secondary and tertiary industries, ”said President Mnangagwa.
Last week’s tour of Chipinge saw Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri; Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister Perrance Shiri; Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Sibusiso Moyo; Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa; Industry and Commerce Minister, Dr Sekai Nzenza and the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba, having an opportunity to appreciate the state of the country’s agricultural value chains.
The Tanganda tour was the first in a series of many as President Mnangagwa and his team seek to visit provinces and various companies to engage them on the need to expand operations and aggressively market Zimbabwean products so as to grow the economy.
As one of the leading exporters, Tanganda Tea Company has been recording remarkable growth in export revenue, with revenue jumping from US$6,45 million in 2015 to US$16, 9 million in 2018.
Minister Shiri has pledged to assist the company in penetrating markets in China, India and Japan. A meeting was scheduled for this week to work out the modalities.
The company has five estates in the Eastern Highlands, while 90 percent of its produce is for exports.
An average of 9 500 tonnes of tea is grown on four of the company’s estates, while coffee is grown at Jersey Estate’s 162 hectares.
Besides tea and coffee, the company also has macadamia and avocado plantations, thereby creating more than 4 000 jobs for locals.
Tanganda Tea Company’s high employment figures also charmed
President Mnangagwa, who said, “These high figures clearly demonstrate the company’s notable contribution to enhancing the livelihoods of our people in Chipinge as well as to the Gross Domestic Product of Manicaland Province.
“The continued determination of the company to soldier on with its growth strategy despite present challenges, including the current disruptions brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, should inspire other companies across the country,” said President Mnangagwa.
As part of its contribution towards the Covid-19 national response, Tanganda Tea Company donated four tonnes of tea worth $1,2 million.
“We are grateful for Tanganda Tea Company’s generous donation towards the effort. These charitable gestures attest to our true, loving, caring and compassionate nature as the people of Zimbabwe. Together we will overcome. United in peace and love, our people and nation will flourish, standing strong and prosperous into the future,” said President Mnangagwa.
In a separate interview, Minister Mutsvangwa appreciated Chipinge’s efforts in promoting exports.
“We have always been saying Chipinge is a sleeping giant. Our tour today demonstrates that Government really appreciates what is happening in Chipinge, especially when it comes to exporting our produce. There is a lot of potential here and we applaud what Tanganda is doing.
“We also implore the company to work with the local community for everyone’s benefit. When we talk of international trade, exports and import substitutions, it is all happening here. We need to market Brand Zimbabwe, work hard and uplift the living standards of our people,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.