ZIMBABWE- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has commissioned a new milling company, Champion Foods Private Limited, lauding it as a pivotal step towards breaking the monopoly held by mainstream milling companies and curbing unjustified price hikes in Zimbabwe’s mealie meal market.
With a capacity to process 500 tonnes of maize and 200 tonnes of wheat per day, the milling company is poised to revolutionize the food industry and address challenges such as price hikes and shortages of essential commodities.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the milling company in Tynward, Harare, President Mnangagwa emphasized the significance of indigenous investors contributing to the country’s industrialization drive.
The President highlighted that the entry of Champion Foods Private Limited into the market signifies a significant shift towards value addition and sustainable industrialization, aligning with the nation’s Vision 2030 goals.
“To this end, the massive milling plant will help complement the current local milling capacity, increase our product volumes, create employment opportunities and export-led production.”
President Mnangagwa praised the proactive measures taken by Champion Foods Private Limited in response to market dynamics, citing their pivotal role in reducing the price of mealie meal through continuous milling operations.
He commended the company’s entrepreneurial spirit and underscored its potential to bolster employment opportunities, increase production volumes, and foster export-led growth.
“I congratulate Champion Foods Private Limited for the entrepreneurial initiative as well as the great milestones realised at this site. The contributions you are set to make in the agricultural value addition space are welcome.”
Moreover, the President reiterated the government’s commitment to creating a conducive environment for rural industrialization and economic growth.
He emphasized the pivotal role of agriculture in driving Zimbabwe’s sustainable development, highlighting its potential to catalyze various sectors such as manufacturing, finance, and logistics.
Key stakeholders, including Vice Presidents Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi, as well as Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries, and Rural Development, Dr. Anxious Masuka, lauded the initiative as a testament to President Mnangagwa’s visionary leadership and the implementation of the National Development Strategy 1.
Champion Foods Private Limited’s chairperson, Mr. Douglas Kwande, emphasized the importance of value addition in the agricultural value chain, signalling a strategic shift towards maximizing returns from agricultural produce.
Furthermore, the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers president, Mr Denford Mutashu, welcomed the entry of Champion Foods Private Limited into the milling industry, expressing optimism that it would stabilize prices and alleviate shortages of mealie meal.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by government officials, legislators, ZANU PF Politburo members, supporters, and industry leaders, underscoring the collaborative effort to drive economic transformation and food security in Zimbabwe.
For all the latest grains industry news from Africa, the Middle East, and the World, subscribe to our weekly NEWSLETTERS, follow us on LinkedIn, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
