. . . prioritises agro-based companies

Government is prioritising the resuscitation of agro and mining companies since the country’s economy is based on agriculture and mining, Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs Larry Mavima has said.

Minister Mavima, who toured Sable Chemicals on Wednesday, said President Mnangagwa’s recent tour was centred around countries whose economies were hinged on agriculture and mining to see how best to  help companies operating in the two sectors.

“President has just been on a successful tour of countries whose economies are largely based on mining and agriculture,” he said.

“The purpose of the visit was to see how the mining and agricultural industries in those countries are operating so that we also improve as a country.”

Sable Chemicals, situated about 20 kilometres outside Kwekwe is the sole ammonium nitrate producer in the country.

Minister Mavima said Government was committed to helping such strategic companies like Sable Chemicals, which were key to the success of the agricultural sector.

He said under normal circumstances, Sable Chemicals should be exporting fertiliser than importing raw materials.

“I heard this company spent almost $77 million on importing raw materials last year,” said Mr  Mavima.

“This is not President Mnangagwa’s vision, no. He wants the economy to grow, he wants us to achieve a middle class economy by year 2030 and to achieve this, companies like Sable Chemicals need Government support so that we don’t spent huge amounts of foreign currency on importing raw materials.

“It must be vice versa, we are exporting our fertiliser and earning foreign currency.”

Minister Mavima said Sable Chemicals was one of the largest employers in the Midlands with 300 employees, hence the need to support it.

“The President himself toured this company last year and it is a sign that Government has a special interest to see this company moving forward and growing,” he said.