The facility is part of a national drive to moderniseZimbabwe’s agricultural sector and strengthen food security.
The initiative is one of 14 similar projects being rolled out across the country under the overnment’s agricultural transformation strategy.
Each site will host silos with a total capacity of 56 000 metric tonnes, offering high-tech post-harvest handling and storage systems designed to minimise grain losses and maintain quality.
During a site tour recently, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka, expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of the work being done.
“Mutare GMB depot is among 14 sites under construction. These modern silos are equipped with Artificial Intelligence features that enhance efficiency in grain handling and storage. We are confident the Mutare project will be ready by July 20, 2025 just in time for the wheat intake. Each site includes advanced systems such as dust extractors and 100-tonne-per-hour dryers that adjust depending on moisture content during intake,” said Dr Masuka.
Acting Provincial Mechanisation Engineer for Manicaland, Farai Nyamhunga, gave a technical overview of the project.
“We have completed the construction of seven silos, each with an 8 000-metric-tonne capacity. The installation of the drying tower, cooling tower, and moisture control room has also been finalised. Work is currently ongoing on key support facilities including the furnace room, power room, dispatching area, and core warehouse,” he explained.
Manicaland’s Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, emphasized the importance of the project in meeting the region’s growing grain output.
“Manicaland has already harvested 394 000 metric tonnes of maize and 77 000 metric tonnes of traditional grains this season. That’s a total of 471 000 metric tonnes. As irrigation schemes and dam construction continue to improve agricultural production, facilities like these will be crucial in managing harvests effectively,” he said.
The Mutare development reflects Zimbabwe’s commitment to food self-sufficiency through infrastructure modernisation.
With the Government pushing to complete similar smart silo projects countrywide, the future of grain storage in Zimbabwe is looking more secure and far more intelligent.
