Story by Gay Matambo
THE establishment of Komo United Resins, a rubber manufacturing plant in Mutasa District, Manicaland Province, is nearing completion, with construction works expected to be finalised next month, marking a significant boost to the province’s industrialisation drive.
The factory, being developed by Government in partnership with development partners, will focus on producing rubber derived from pine tree resins, leveraging Manicaland’s rich forestry resources to support value addition and local manufacturing.
Manicaland Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, toured the facility on Thursday and said the project reflected the dividends of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s engagement and re-engagement policy, which has opened the province to increased investment flows.
“We are happy as Manicaland that in terms of investment, we have moved in strides and we have our President to thank. His stewardship and leadership has moved Manicaland and taken us to another level. The beginning of the National Development Strategy One(NDS1) in 2021, US$50 million was the value of investments that was received, but as we speak right now, at the end of 2025 we have US$171 million value of investments and we expect more this year. This is one of the many companies that have come to invest in Manicaland.”
Once operational, the plant is expected to generate substantial employment opportunities for local communities, particularly in Mutasa District.
Komo United Resins Private Limited General Manager Ms Li Kuan said the project would create jobs both within the factory and across the pine resin supply chain.
“Our by-product is Pine Resins. It is from the pine trees. We will employ close to 2 000 employees to get the resins from pine trees and in the factory, we have close to 100 employees. When the plant is fully running, we expect to see 300 locals being employed here. We expect to become operational in February 2026,” Ms Kuan said.
Local residents have welcomed the development, citing its potential to improve livelihoods and address social challenges in the area.
“We were struggling without employment, but so far, we are happy that we have this factory being set up here and most youths in the area will be employed,” one resident said.
“The establishment of this factory here will end issues to do with illegal gold mining that were rampant in our area because the community will have something to do. As women, we are happy because we were also awarded an opportunity to get employment here which was something almost impossible for us,” another added.
The Komo United Resins project adds to a growing list of industrial investments in Manicaland under the Second Republic, which include the Mega Flour Milling Company and the Willowton Cooking Oil Manufacturing Company, reinforcing the province’s role in Zimbabwe’s industrial and economic transformation.
