Story by Aifheli Mudau
GOVERNMENT has moved to revive the Mnandi Mnandi Processing Centre in Madaula Village, Beitbridge, in a bid to promote rural industrialisation, create employment and unlock value addition opportunities for local communities.
The rehabilitation of the processing centre is expected to strengthen food security while providing sustainable livelihoods for vulnerable households through agro-processing and enterprise development.
The planned revival has been welcomed by residents, who believe the project will create jobs and stimulate economic activity in the area.
“If this project is revived, youths from Madaula area are set to benefit from jobs that are going to be created from the centre,” said one youth.
Another resident said the project would open new opportunities for self-employment.
“We are happy now that the Government has come to assist the community by resuscitating the processing centre; it will help us to be self-employed.”
Community members also believe the facility has the potential to attract private investment.
“This plant has the potential to attract big investors, which is a big advantage to us as a community,” another resident said.
Vice Chairperson of the Mnandi Mnandi Processing Centre Resuscitation Committee, Mr Jethro Singo, said the facility previously processed a range of locally sourced products.
“Here we were producing marula jam and processing other forestry products, including marula nuts for oil extraction, as well as peanut butter,” he said.
Ward 3 Councillor Cde Khawulani Ndou said the revival of the centre would complement Government’s rural industrialisation agenda.
“We are promoting rural industrialisation so that villagers from this area can earn better incomes. Government’s intervention to revive this processing centre will bring significant benefits to the community,” he said.
Following a tour of the facility, Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Albert Nguluvhe, said Government had identified ageing equipment as the major challenge and had already initiated steps to restore operations.
“I have come here to assess the challenges facing this processing centre and realised that most of the equipment is worn out. I have instructed the relevant authorities to submit their requirements so that Government can provide the necessary support to bring this centre back to life and promote health and wealth in this area as part of our rural industrialisation drive,” he said.
The revival of the Mnandi Mnandi Processing Centre is expected to boost local value addition, create employment opportunities and help stem rural-to-urban migration, in line with Government’s rural industrialisation and rural economies agenda.
