Zimbabwe’s president, Emmerson Mnangagwa Thursday commissioned a US$20 million edible oil refinery plant in rural Mahusekwa, Mashonaland East province.

Speaking at the event Mnangagwa said global shocks that have caused food shortages and related challenges in many countries had driven Zimbabwe’s desire to produce adequate food for its citizens.

He urged local farmers to take advantage of the government’s National Enhanced Agricultural Productivity Scheme (NEAPS) and access farming inputs for strategic crops.

The oil plant was set up by a Dubai-based company, Mount Meru Millers, and will process soya beans, sunflower and cotton into edible oil.

The development will see the local community benefiting in terms of employment creation, among other benefits.

Mount Meru Millers has presence in 14 countries in Africa.

Mnangagwa said edible oil value chain players to support the production of soya beans, cotton and sunflower by contracting local farmers to guarantee availability of raw materials.

“This should in turn see a decrease in our reliance on imported crude edible oil to boost our national requirements while at the same time supporting local small-holder farmers,” he said.

“This multi-pronged strategy has become imperative, more so as climate change and mandatory bio-fuel production in major edible oil producing countries have disrupted edible oil availability and supply chains.

“Additionally, global shocks have exacerbated the need for self-sufficiency in the production of feed-stock into edible oil value chains.”

He said Mount Meru shareholders, represented by Atui Mittal, was one of the few people who responded and expressed interest to invest in Zimbabwe.

President Mnangagwa said there were subsequent meetings held both in Dubai and in Harare, resulting in them eventually establishing business.

“I promised this young man (Atui Mittal) that whatever challenge he might encounter, my Government will support him.”

The new oil plant has a capacity to produce 250 tonnes of soya edible oil per day, and will help increase its supply to the local market.

The plant, Mnangagwa said, was testimony to the success of the “Zimbabwe is open for Business” mantra.

Mittal said he was excited to invest in Zimbabwe and wanted to invest about US$100 million.

“We will support a lot of value chain in Zimbabwe. With your vision and leadership, we hope that we will employ about 1 000 people here,” said Mr Mittal.

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