Story by Bruce Chahwanda, Political Editor
ZIMBABWE has approved an ambitious 10-year sugarcane industry development strategy that seeks to increase ethanol production nearly fourfold, boost electricity generation more than eight times and double sugar exports by 2035 as part of efforts to transform the sector into a globally competitive and climate-resilient industry.
Speaking during the Twentieth Post-Cabinet Press Briefing on Tuesday, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Zhemu Soda said Cabinet had approved the Zimbabwe Sugarcane Industry Development Plan (2026–2035).
Under the strategy, sugarcane yields are projected to rise from 81 metric tonnes per hectare to 110 metric tonnes per hectare, while annual sugar production is expected to increase from 400 000 metric tonnes to 500 000 metric tonnes by 2035.
The plan also targets a significant expansion in ethanol production from 155 million litres to 600 million litres annually, electricity generation from 23 megawatts to 200 megawatts, and sugar exports from 100 000 metric tonnes to 200 000 metric tonnes.
Dr Soda said the plan seeks to position Zimbabwe as “a globally competitive, climate-resilient and innovation-driven producer of sugarcane and sugarcane-based products by 2035”.
He said the strategy places strong emphasis on diversification and value addition through expanded ethanol production, renewable energy generation, industrial by-products, bio-fertilisers, stock feeds, bio-plastics and other downstream industries derived from sugarcane by-products such as molasses and bagasse.
“The Plan envisages modernisation of the products in order to de-risk and guarantee viability of the industry,” Dr Soda said.
According to Cabinet, the strategy is anchored on seven pillars: enabling policy, regulatory and institutional frameworks; enhancing productivity and climate resilience; promoting product diversification; market, trade development and value-chain diversification; research, technology and innovation; inclusive growth and smallholder development; and finance and investment.
Dr Soda said the plan also prioritises infrastructure modernisation, increased productivity, renewable energy development, research and innovation, and stronger partnerships involving Government, the private sector, development partners, academia and local communities.
“Through coordinated investment and strategic collaboration, the industry is expected to become a key driver of sustainable economic transformation, employment creation and green industrial development,” he said.
Cabinet noted that implementation of the strategy is expected to improve access to affordable finance, strengthen irrigation infrastructure and enhance regulatory support, leading to higher productivity and improved competitiveness in regional and international markets.
“Increased processing capacity is expected to result in expanded ethanol output and increased sugar exports thereby ensuring sustained profitability across the value chains,” Dr Soda added.
