Staff Reporter
President Mnangagwa has today commissioned the Mutare Teachers’ College Fruit Juice and Water Processing Plant, heralding a significant step forward in the country’s push towards sustainable economic development and rural industrialization.
Addressing a distinguished audience in Mutare, President Mnangagwa highlighted the critical role of innovation in national development.
"The plant we are commissioning today is a demonstration of what Zimbabweans can achieve when we put our hands and minds together. It dovetails with our rallying call and philosophy to nation-building," he stated, referencing the theme of the upcoming SADC Industrialization Week, which Zimbabwe will host from July 28 to August 2, 2024.
President Mnangagwa expressed his Government's commitment to supporting such innovative projects through various initiatives, including the recently established National Venture Capital Company.
"This is anchored by our innovation hubs and industrial parks towards the modernization and industrialization of our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe," he elaborated.
Further emphasising the importance of education in driving economic progress, President Mnangagwa remarked, "Through our robust education transformation agenda, under the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 philosophy, we have gone beyond just awarding degrees and certificates. We are promoting innovation, hard honest work, and entrepreneurial mind sets that produce goods and services which enhance national development."
The President also called for increased collaboration between educational institutions and the private sector to further leverage the country's capacity for innovation and production.
He urged stakeholders to pursue a holistic business strategy, which includes not just production but also packaging, marketing, and distribution, to enhance self-sufficiency and competitiveness in the global market.
As Zimbabwe approaches SADC Industrialization Week, President Mnangagwa challenged other institutions of higher learning to follow Mutare Teachers’ College's lead in commercialising and marketing their innovations.
The newly commissioned facility, which can produce 16 000 litres of fruit juice during an 8-hour shift, will utilise local fruits like baobab, pineapple, banana, and guava, abundant in the Manicaland Province.
This initiative not only aims to boost the local economy but also enhances the nutritional and dietary well-being of the Zimbabwean population.
Meanwhile, the commissioning of the Mutare Teachers’ College processing plant stands as a testament to Zimbabwe’s dedication to achieving its Vision 2030 goals through education, innovation, and industry collaboration.
