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George Maponga Masvingo Bureau

The multi-million dollar Amarula processing and value addition plant that is under construction at Rutenga Growth Point in Mwenezi is set for commissioning next month.

The plant will value-add the marula fruit that is found in abundance in arid Mwenezi and is being built as part of Government’s value addition drive to spur economic growth in line with Vision 2030.

The plant is being built by the National Biotechnology Authority of Zimbabwe, an agency that falls under the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development.

The value-addition venture is a flagship project implemented under Government’s 100-day cycle and will create hundreds of jobs.

Mwenezi Rural District Council chief executive Mr Albert Chivanga said the plant was on the verge of completion and was set for commissioning next month.

He said the plant will transform the face of Rutenga and add impetus to the settlement’s thrust to attain town status.

Besides creating direct employment, the plant, the first of its kind in Zimbabwe, will empower locals who will harvest and sell the marula fruit for processing.