Story by Tamuka Charakupa
CHINESE-owned company, Berry Tech Investments, is set to scale up its investment portfolio in Zimbabwe to US$200 million from 2026, expanding beyond its existing quarry mining operations in Mashonaland West in a move expected to boost key economic sectors.
The company, which currently operates a US$15 million high-tech construction aggregate processing plant near Norton in Zvimba East, says the planned expansion will target mining, energy, agriculture and industrial development.
Berry Tech Investments Director Mr Yuan Zhunong said the decision to expand was influenced by Zimbabwe’s improving investment climate under the Second Republic.
He said the new projects will focus on mining and explosives production, power and energy infrastructure development, as well as fertiliser and agricultural input processing. The planned investments include the development of a 50-megawatt power plant valued at about US$40 million.
“Established in 2005, Berry Tech Investment Company is a Chinese-funded enterprise. In 2026, we are expanding our investment scale and plan to invest US$200 million in Zimbabwe. The projects will mainly focus on mining and explosives production, power and energy infrastructure development, as well as fertiliser and agricultural input processing. A 50-megawatt power plant, with an investment of US$40 million,” Mr Yuan Zhunong said.
Local leadership has welcomed the expansion, saying it presents opportunities for employment creation, value addition and economic growth within the district.
“As local leadership, we welcome increased investment, particularly in the manufacturing sector, which has the capacity to create employment, add value to our raw materials and stimulate economic growth within the district,” Zvimba East, Legislator, Honourable Decide Manhanzva noted.
Ward 25 Zvimba Rural District Council councillor Mr Ruzai Muchaurawa also urged investors to ensure long-term community benefits.
“What we are witnessing here is a clear demonstration that partnerships between the private sector and communities can yield meaningful development. We, however, urge investors to ensure that corporate social responsibility programmes are sustainable and continue to uplift local livelihoods beyond short-term interventions,” Mr Ruzai Muchaurawa said.
Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Marian Chombo, expressed satisfaction with the growing investment activity in the province, citing government efforts to improve the ease of doing business.
“I am impressed by the scale and diversity of investment projects taking shape across Mashonaland West Province. His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa continues to implore us to create an ease of doing business, and as an office, we are committed to ensuring that investors are fully supported. We are also addressing issues around land disputes, as increased investment naturally brings greater demand for land, and these matters are being attended to in order to promote orderly and sustainable development,” Honourable Chombo said.
She added that authorities were addressing land-related challenges arising from increased investment demand to promote orderly and sustainable development.
The expansion of Berry Tech Investments is expected to support rural industrialisation, create jobs and contribute to Zimbabwe’s broader economic growth agenda.
