Mapfura plant transforms lives in Mwenezi
Story by Josephine Mugiyo
THE Mapfura plant in Mwenezi established in 2022 continues to thrive with the entity now diversifying production as it works on claiming a huge local and export market share.
The plant has opened doors for the likes of Mention Muchegwa who never dreamt of getting employed one day.
“I had sent my wife to go and deliver mapfura, on that day we were in desperate need of money, so I went to look for a part time job, as I was getting ready to do that my informed me that the plant was looking to employ more people. I ran there, and I got a job instantly as the interview was not difficult,” said Muchegwa.
Muchegwa is now employed and the plant is what sustains his livelihood at present.
When the mapfura fruit is in season, the delivery and subsequent pulping of the fruit is the norm in Mwenezi.
Loads of fruit have been delivered and they await to be processed.
Sibanengi Tavatarira has also been employed at the plant since 2022, and he takes pride in knowing that his children’s school fees are up to date.
“It is something I’m proud to say that my daughter is now in A level, for some it’s something small, but for me the marula fruit means gold, I don’t owe any fees, even If you look at the situation around. I was speaking to a man who said he bought a plough, I paid fees for my children,” said Tavatarira.
Since the establishment of the plant, several developments have been taking place.
The main product, Amarula wine has also been improved as revealed by the Director of Enterprise Business Development for the National Biotechnology Authority of Zimbabwe, Mr Earnest Muzavazi.
“We started production in 2022. This is the first product we came up with, the wine, and now we have a new bottle of the wine and it can compete everywhere. Even the product has changed, in terms of its formulation. The region was used to Makumbe. We are inundated with people wanting the product,” he said.
While wine is the main product, Dr Dexter Savadye says the plant is now better equipped to produce Amarula oil used in the cosmetics industry.
“The project is supposed to transform rural industrialisation in Zimbabwe. There are many other products that can come out of the product including the oil and charcoal briskets. We are aggressively marketing the wine. We expect that it will serve as a model of rural industrialisation in Zimbabwe. As I speak we are constructing a similar product in Muzarabani,” he said.
The employees at the plant and the villagers in Mwenezi are optimistic that the plant will further expand.
Village by village development is expected to continue as President Mnangagwa emphasises the need to prioritise rural industrialisation.
