Tanyaradzwa Rusike
DEATH has never been friendly to anyone, but its impact can be particularly devastating to widows.
However, Mrs Linda Manyeza’s story is a clear demonstration of resilience. After her husband died in 2017, it was time to think outside the box.
“I realised poverty is real. My husband and provider Alan, to whom I had been happily married for 21 years, passed away due to heart failure. I realised that, if I did not turn my challenges into business opportunities, my four children would lead miserable lives.”
Born to parents who were passionate farmers in the picturesque lands of Christon Bank near Mazowe, she decided to venture into the dehydration of fruits and vegetables business to sustain her children. Having relocated to South Africa in 2004, she started a company, Food Masters South Africa in 2016.
Her agro-processing and food distribution company is on the path to growth in South Africa, where she is working with rural women.
Mrs Manyeza said: “In South Africa, statistics show that more than 10 million tonnes of food are wasted annually while 14 million people go to bed hungry daily. I saw this opportunity and decided to implement my vision to end food shortages in Africa by preserving food.
“Africa continues to lack food for her people while there is abundance within. In a way, I look at it as people walking on food while they go by on empty stomachs. Our purpose is to reimagine food waste as abundance. We achieve this by harnessing the power of the sun.”
Empowering Zimbabweans In 2021, Mrs Manyeza was one of the winners at the inaugural Women Agripreneurs of the Year Awards held in Kenya, while in South Africa, she has also scooped accolades.
Inspired by her success on the continent, Mrs Manyeza is now on a mission to empower Zimbabwean women to take up opportunities in the local food processing industry.
“At Mbare Musika, heaps of rotten fruits and vegetables can be seen on the ground while just across the road from the discarded food, many families struggle to put food on the table. What is missing are clear strategies and regulations on how food should be handled and rescued before it gets to the end of its shelf life,” she said.
In South Africa, her company has trained hundreds of small-scale farmers and she is extending the training programme to her home country.
“Our first training workshop in Zimbabwe was at Mandel Training Centre in October and it
was a success. The next one is scheduled for the 1st and 2nd of December 2022 at Mandel Training Centre,” she added.
“I have been training small-scale farmers in Limpopo, Northwest and other parts of South Africa on how to dehydrate food. While I am grateful for the awards and recognition given to me in other African countries, it is good to also share knowledge with others here at home.
“Coming back home to share the skills that I have gained is my way of uplifting my fellow Zimbabwean women and contributing to the Zimbabwean economy. On the other hand, President Mnangagwa called for agro-processors to come and add value to fresh produce, which usually ends up being discarded here at home,” she said.
Mrs Manyeza said she believes Zimbabwean women can empower themselves in a big way, by grabbing opportunities in the dried food industry.
“There are many widows in Zimbabwe who have lost hope due to life challenges of heading homes single-headedly. Covid-19, on the other hand, wreaked havoc and left many youth-headed homes without income. Our training programmes enable people to engage in start-ups for production, and unlock opportunities for export markets,” she said.
According to ZimTrade, the global import value of dried products grew to US$2,17 billion in 2019, while Africa’s import bill of dried fruits grew to US$46 million in 2019.
ZimTrade says the dried food industry offers massive export opportunities, particularly for small-scale farmers.
“As it stands, the Netherlands is currently the largest importer of Zimbabwean horticultural produce, and local start-ups can utilise existing channels to introduce more dried fruits to the country. Apart from these international markets, there are also opportunities to explore African markets, riding on the opening of markets by the African Continental Free Trade Area,” said ZimTrade.
