President Mnangagwa Commissions Mutare NatPharm Warehouse and Mega Market Flour Milling Plant

By Edward Makuzva in Mutare

MUTARE — President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Saturday officially opened two key infrastructural projects, the Mutare NatPharm Warehouse and the Mega Market Flour Milling Plant, describing them as symbols of Zimbabwe’s accelerated modernisation, industrialisation, and economic recovery under the Second Republic.

Speaking at the ceremony held in Mutare on the sidelines of the 22nd ZANU PF Annual National People’s Conference, President Mnangagwa said the two projects reflect his administration’s commitment to strengthening both the health and manufacturing sectors, in line with the country’s development agenda, Vision 2030.

“Since 2018, the opening up of the economy and the implementation of transformative reforms have rejuvenated all sectors of the economy,” said President Mnangagwa.

“Our nation is now brimming with vitality and rapid development.”

Health Sector TransformationThe President added that the commissioning of the Mutare NatPharm Warehouse marks another milestone in the government’s efforts to ensure universal access to essential medicines and health commodities across the country.

The US$6.96 million project, a partnership between the Government of Zimbabwe, the Global Fund, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is equipped with a large storage capacity and a 370-kilowatt solar power system.

It is expected to significantly enhance the distribution of medicines to rural clinics, mission hospitals, and community health centres.

“A viable health sector is not only an indicator but also a precondition and outcome of sustainable development,” President Mnangagwa explained.

“This facility attests to our ongoing efforts to make quality and affordable health services accessible, especially to the most vulnerable.”

He noted that the Mutare warehouse, strategically located along the Beira Corridor and close to the Port of Beira, would serve as a receiving hub for medical commodities for the entire nation, reducing supply bottlenecks and improving operational efficiency in medicine delivery.

The President urged the Ministry of Health and Child Care to expedite the construction of additional regional pharmaceutical warehouses across the provinces, to complement the national facility in Harare.

He further emphasized the importance of developing Zimbabwe’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity, noting that since 2018, the number of local pharmaceutical manufacturers has grown by 56 percent — from 9 in 2020 to 14 today.

“We must stimulate national self-reliance through the local production of medicines and equipment,” he said.

“Government will continue to capacitate NatPharm and promote partnerships between the private sector and institutions of higher learning.”

Boost for the Manufacturing SectorTurning to the manufacturing sector, President Mnangagwa applauded Mega Market for its bold investments and contribution to national industrial growth.

He commended the company for successfully implementing its strategic expansion plan and establishing a state-of-the-art flour milling plant in Mutare.“

The decision by the Government to confer National Project Status to this entity is paying dividends,” said President Mnangagwa.

“This investment comes at an opportune time when Zimbabwe continues to record historic wheat harvests.”

The President said the new flour milling plant will help strengthen the agro-industrial value chain, create new jobs, reduce the import bill, and contribute to GDP growth.

He added that Mega Market’s upcoming projects, including a solar power plant and trailer assembly plant, demonstrate investor confidence in Zimbabwe’s economic trajectory.

“You can count on my Government for continued support,” he assured the company.

Environmental StewardshipPresident Mnangagwa also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to environmental protection and climate resilience.

He highlighted that the Eastern Highlands, renowned for their lush forests and scenic mountains, should inspire collective efforts in afforestation and reforestation.

“Forests are an ecological safeguard for mankind, more so against the vagaries of climate change,” he said.

“All our communities must plant trees to build a beautiful and sustainable Zimbabwe.”

The President later led a tree-planting ceremony as part of the event’s proceedings, underscoring his government’s commitment to ecological preservation.

A Nation on the MovePresident Mnangagwa concluded by declaring the two facilities officially commissioned, describing them as “monuments of progress” that illustrate the transformative impact of the Second Republic’s policies.

“These projects embody our nation’s fortitude and collective drive to build a resilient, broad-based economy,” said Mnangagwa.

“Together, we are constructing the Zimbabwe we all want.”