photography by : Robert Bhamu
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has commissioned a new US$100 million tobacco processing plant in Lochinvar, Harare, marking a major milestone in Zimbabwe’s ongoing drive to promote value addition within the agricultural sector.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, President Mnangagwa said the investment reflects the country’s determination to shift from exporting raw commodities to producing high-value processed goods. He noted that tobacco has long been one of Zimbabwe’s top foreign currency earners, and establishing a modern processing facility will strengthen the industry’s competitiveness while creating employment.
The state-of-the-art plant is expected to increase the proportion of locally processed tobacco, reduce export losses, and open up new opportunities for farmers and agro-industrial players. Officials say the facility will also contribute significantly to government efforts to industrialise agriculture and grow the economy under Vision 2030.
Farmers and stakeholders who attended the event welcomed the development, saying it will bring them closer to better prices, improved market access, and a more stable value chain. The plant is also expected to boost confidence in the sector at a time when Zimbabwe is pushing for increased local investment and technological advancement.
The commissioning marks yet another step in government’s broader vision of transforming agriculture from a primary sector to a fully integrated industrial system one that empowers farmers, drives exports, and positions Zimbabwe as a value-addition hub in the region.