Staff Reporter
A brighter future is on the horizon for more than 500 A2 sugarcane farmers at Mkwasine Estates in Chiredzi, as Government pushes ahead with plans to establish a new sugar mill in the area, a transformative move set to revolutionise local cane farming.
For years, Mkwasine farmers have struggled with costly and inefficient logistics, transporting their harvested cane approximately 60 kilometres to the nearest processing facilities at Triangle and Hippo Valley Estates.
The high rail transport costs have severely eroded their profits and rendered many operations unsustainable.
The Second Republic, through the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, has already tendered for the construction of a new sugar mill right at Mkwasine, a move that promises to cut costs, reduce crop deterioration, and boost incomes for local growers.
In an interview with the media yesterday, Permanent Secretary for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Dr Addmore Pazvakavambwa, confirmed the progress.
“A new sugar mill is earmarked for Mkwasine Estates in Chiredzi and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce has already tendered for the project. The new sugar mill will reduce transportation costs for farmers in the Mkwasine area while also bringing the much-needed competition between millers,” he said.
Currently, Tongaat Huletts Zimbabwe monopolises the sugar milling industry with the country’s only two mills located at Triangle and Hippo Valley, boasting a combined capacity of 630000 tonnes.
The establishment of a third mill would not only decentralise milling services but also introduce healthy competition in the sector, which could benefit farmers through better service and pricing.
Zimbabwe Sugarcane Development Association (ZSDA) chairman, Elisha Tamirepi, welcomed the move with enthusiasm.
“For the cane farming community in Mkwasine, the new mill is a welcome development. It will cut transport costs, meaning more money in the farmers’ pockets. Even the quality of our cane will improve, as currently the cane deteriorates while waiting to be shipped for milling,” said Tamirepi.
Apart from the high transport costs, Mkwasine farmers have also endured perennial challenges, such as erratic irrigation caused by insufficient water from Manjirenji Dam.
The ageing infrastructure, including leaking outlet pipes, further compounds the problem. In addition, farmers face the ongoing threat of crop destruction from wild animals.
The planned sugar mill could mark a turning point—offering not only economic relief but also new opportunities for growth and self-sufficiency in the Lowveld.
It is a key milestone under the Second Republic’s broader agenda to uplift rural communities through infrastructure and industrial development.
