Story by Regis Mhako

THE Second Republic’s economic turnaround efforts are bearing fruit after Agro Value Chain (AVC) established a new edible oil processing plant and resuscitated David Whitehead Textiles operations in Chegutu and Kadoma.

After a tour of the AVC Oil Processing Plant and David Whitehead Textiles in Chegutu this Wednesday, the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Monitoring Implementation of Government Programmes Dr Joram Gumbo noted that the oil processing plant is a fulfilment of the government’s 100 Day Cycle projects.

“I have to come to see it myself what’s on the ground and after touring the oil processing plant I am excited by the work on the ground. I am told the plant has 410 employees but can employ up to 700 including seasonal workers when work is at peak,” he said.

“This is well in line with NDS1 and the 100-day cycle targets.  I am also told that the Kadoma and Chegutu textile firms will together employ more than one thousand people combined,” he added.

AVC Chairperson Mr Pradyum Kumar Ganediwal confirmed that the oil plant expansion and equipment installation is complete, while experts are already in the country to install imported machinery for the textile firms.

“Works at the oil -processing plant are complete and the plant is ready for commissioning. We are in the process of shipping into the 200 containers of equipment from abroad for the textile firms and some have already arrived,” noted Ganediwal.

Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Honourable Mary Mliswa is excited about the development which is expected to create vast opportunities for the people of Chegutu and Kadoma.

“This will create opportunities for our children to get employment. I want to say that you to PK and your team for taking up the challenge,” noted Honourable Mliswa.

A total of US$18 million has been injected towards the resuscitation of David Whitehead Textiles in Chegutu and Kadoma, while US$5 million has been channelled to the oil processing plant, bringing the total investment by AVC to US$23 million.