The Sunday Mail
Trade Focus
Allan Majuru
Zimbabwe’s development trajectory is clear: No one and no place will be left behind.
This inclusive approach to national economic development has seen President Mnangagwa’s Government laying emphasis on devolution.
All districts and provinces have been identified as having a crucial role to play towards achieving the nation’s targets of an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
However, the success of devolution depends on, among other factors, the ability of all provinces to tap into areas in which they enjoy comparative advantage, particularly those involving foreign currency generation.
The first step is identifying the low-hanging fruits that could be used to support initial development of export products for each province.
ZimTrade — the national trade development and promotion organisation — conducted a survey of Masvingo to identify products with export potential and key strategies to upscale exports from the province.
The results indicated that sectors such as agriculture; manufacturing; and arts and crafts will offer quick wins for Masvingo, as they are already performing on the export front.
Data shows that Masvingo province has the potential to export around US$386 million per year.
To achieve this figure, there is need to capacitate businesses, as well as consider diversification.
Chiredzi district
Four main activities drive the economy of Chiredzi — agriculture, tourism, mining and manufacturing.
Chiredzi is already the largest producer of processed sugar in Zimbabwe, which has ready markets in African countries such as Kenya, Botswana and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
As more land is already being prepared for increased sugarcane production, Chiredzi presents an opportunity to grow exports of processed sugar.
Considering that, at one time, Zimbabwe exported to the European Union — where the country had a quota of more than 200 000 tonnes of sugar per year — the same tonnage or even more can be achieved.
Chiredzi is also seeing an increase in the number of communal farmers moving towards commercial farming, focusing on crops such as cotton, small grains and horticultural produce.
These crops present options for Chiredzi.
With support, the district can grow into an export hub of agro-produce other than sugar, as the hot weather presents ideal conditions for small grains and other crops.
Cattle rearing is also an economic activity that can be developed to supply meat and meat products to regional markets such as the DRC and Angola.
The value-chain development approach will also see a viable leather industry, with the capacity to export processed leather, including manufactured leather products such as shoes, belts, bags and jackets.
In essence, Chiredzi is one of the rainbow districts; it has a rich and diverse cultural heritage. A look at the Shangani community will confirm this.
Commercialising the entire arts and crafts sector, riding on the rich historical background, culture and traditions in Chiredzi could also lead to growth in exports from the sector.
Gutu
Agriculture supports livelihoods in Gutu district and is a low-hanging fruit for export development. Farmers currently produce maize and small grains such as sorghum, finger millet and pearl millet.
The production of sweet potatoes, groundnuts, sugar beans and cowpeas has also been growing, with other farmers venturing into fruit production.
Addressing challenges faced by farmers who are into livestock production in Gutu will go a long way in developing capacities for the district to produce meat and meat products for regional and international markets.
Already, markets such as Dubai are eyeing goats from Zimbabwe.
Masvingo district
Masvingo district has huge potential in processed foods and beverages. It also has potential in the leather sector, as well as engineering.
Like other districts in the province, farmers in Masvingo produce maize, cotton, groundnuts, rapoko, sorghum, tobacco, sugar beans and wheat.
In terms of horticulture, tomatoes, cabbages and potatoes are grown in the district, while livestock farmers specialise in poultry (broilers, layers), cattle, pigs, sheep and goats.
There are some farmers who are growing mango and avocado trees for export of the fruits. If capacitated, these could diversify export products from the district.
There is also an opportunity for farmers to consider cannabis, which is a great foreign currency earner.
Arts and crafts are also vibrant in Masvingo.
The sector mainly produces fine art pieces such as animal stone sculptures; iron and wood products; and beadwork.
Some of these products are already being exported to European markets such as the Netherlands, as well as countries in the region such as South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Malawi.
The strong tourism sector around Great Zimbabwe makes Masvingo district the hub for exports of arts and crafts, riding on the potential of international buyers who visit the heritage site for leisure and holidays.
Ideally, establishing an arts and crafts cluster and centres of excellence in and around Masvingo district will result in an improvement in quality and standards of the products, as well as make it easy for artists to consolidate their products.
Zaka and Bikita districts
The two districts are mainly driven by agriculture; it is the major economic activity. Products with export potential from the districts include sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, groundnuts, onions and watermelons.
Gum plantations and trees that produce guavas, fibreless mangoes, oranges, avocados and nartjies are common in the district, and these can be developed for export markets.
Processing fruits into cordials, as well as developing a modern canning industry in Zaka and Bikita, will also help harness the potential in trees.
Farmers in the two districts are also into the production of cattle, goats, sheep and poultry, which have export potential.
Chivi district
Chivi district is home to one of the largest dams in the country — Tugwi-Mukosi, making agriculture the quickest win for export development.
Other than the crops that are prevalent in Masvingo province, there is room for the development of a fish and crocodile industry around the dam.
In addition, there is room for Chivi to focus on niche products.
Some indigenous fruits and plants can be value-added to come up with high-end niche products, including beverages and oils, for international markets such as Europe. These include marula (mapfura) nuts; makwakwa fruits; as well as mufandichimuka (resurrection bush) for tea.
The arts and crafts sector is another key area in the district. It produces sculptures from soft stone; and mats; among other fine art products.
Mwenezi district
Mwenezi is emerging as a giant producer of marula products.
Following the launch of the marula processing plant in the district, local communities are already reaping benefits through employment and selling the marula fruit to the company.
There is room for the plant to be an export hub of marula products.
Increasing value-addition of marula fruits will allow communities in Mwenezi to tap into the lucrative global market of essential oils (whether or not terpeneless), whose import value in 2021 was around US$5,8 billion, according to Trade Map.
Furthermore, livestock farming is common in the district, with most farmers engaged in cattle fattening, as well as goat, pig, poultry and sheep rearing.
Capacitating such farmers will also help grow exports of meat and meat products in the district.
Allan Majuru is ZimTrade’s chief executive officer
