VP Kembo Mohadi

Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
VICE President Kembo Mohadi has challenged businessmen across the country to invest in meat related industries in Beitbridge district where livestock production is one of the major economic activities.

He said the district’s economy was anchored on cattle ranching, tourism and cross border trade.

The Vice President said by supporting the thriving cattle industry, Beitbridge would enhance the creation of meat related industries within the town.

He made the call in a speech read on his behalf by Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Cde Abednico Ncube, at an event held to celebrate the town’s elevation to municipality status recently.

“This district has two abattoirs which at their peak slaughters at least 100 beasts per day. Have we ever thought where the hides go? This provides an opportunity to establish a tannery to process the hides for sale,” said VP Mohadi.

“Beitbridge is a livestock district as evidenced by the herd numbers, the thriving butcheries and abattoirs both in rural and urban areas. There’s no industry to process the hides into leather products — these are transported elsewhere or disposed into the environment. Business people gathered here should see this as an opportunity to invest in beef processing within the municipality”.

It is estimated that there are 200 000 cattle, 145 000 goats, 60 000 sheep, 37 000 donkeys, 2 000 pigs, 6 000 dogs and 28 00 poultry in the district.

He said businessmen should also explore the various opportunities in the tourism and cross-border trading sectors within Beitbridge district.

Minister Ncube attributed the town’s rapid growth to collective stakeholders’ efforts.

“I’m glad that as the people of Beitbridge, you have made a difference in this beautiful and strategic town. We also need to work together in promoting the town as an investment destination of choice. Beitbridge is strategically located in terms of transportation and movement of goods and people in and out of Zimbabwe,” he said.

Echoing the same sentiments was Pastor Savious Muleya of the Kingdom Light Global Ministries (KLGM) who called on Zimbabweans in the diaspora to pool resources and take advantage of investment opportunities in the country.

Beitbridge mayor, Councillor Showa Moyo, said the local authority had adopted aggressive marketing strategies to accelerate infrastructure development and to improve the quality of service delivery.