Chipinge dairy buys milk from Mozambique

By Kenneth Matimaire

CHIPINGE Dairy Board is expected to increase its capacity utilisation to 50 percent from 40 percent following milk imports from Mozambique.
Minister of State for Manicaland Monica Mutsvangwa said in her provincial business report that the factory, which remained operational following the closure of the Mutare plant, clinched a deal with Mozambican milk suppliers.
Under the deal, the local dairy board, which has a monthly production of 400 000 litres of milk, will receive 2 500 litres from Mozambique monthly.
“Chipinge Dairy Board, which is operating at 40 percent capacity, is poised to increase its production to 50 percent after the milk from Mozambique begins to arrive. The (factory’s) total local production is 400 000 litres per month. These quantities are mainly from large commercial farmers,” she said.
Mutsvangwa said there was need to mechanise the dairy sector to boost local supplies and production. She said this could be done through Command Dairy.
“This sector requires mechanisation under Command Dairy in the form of feed mixers, centre pivots, milking machines and tractors,” she said.
Currently, capacity utilisation for most provincial companies is at 50 percent, up from 36 percent in 2014 as indicated by a Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries report.
“Mega Market is operating at 70 percent capacity utilisation, Mutare Bottling is at 15 percent, Allied Timbers is at 56 percent, Willowton is at 30 percent and Cairns Foods is also at 30 percent,” Mutsvangwa said.
She indicated that over 30 investors had shown interest in various sectors and companies in the province.
Manicaland has over the past decade witnessed the closure of 10 big firms, while some are struggling.
Mutare Board and Paper Mill, Karina Textiles, Pine Products, Arda Katiyo, Devstar Clothing, Industrial & Domestic Wear, Dairibord, Kenge Breweries, Cotton Company of Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe Coffee have all shut down operations in the region.
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