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Zimbabwe Revitalizes Tomato Processing Infrastructure

11/06/2025

Madeleine Royère-Koonings
Zimbabwe,
Africa
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A team of Italian engineers has recently arrived in Zimbabwe to undertake the rehabilitation of multi-million dollar tomato processing equipment located at three Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda) estates: Norton, Esigodini, and Balu. This machinery, originally acquired from Italy through the late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo and the Development Trust of Zimbabwe (DTZ), had previously been idle.

Arda board chairman, Basil Nyabadza, stated that this initiative aims to further the country’s industrialization vision. The tomato processing project is now progressing, with plans to secure funding from private investors. Nyabadza highlighted a direct market opportunity for the processed output, stating, "We are going to benefit from the project as there is great demand for tomatoes in Namibia’s fishing industry. That’s a ready market." The equipment undergoing rehabilitation encompasses items such as electric motors, storage tanks, piping, steamers, mixers, as well as various farming implements including tractors, harvesters, and sorting machines.

In a broader context, Arda is also expanding its agricultural development efforts, with 600 hectares currently under irrigation at Antelope Arda Estate in Maphisa, Matabeleland South. Plans are in place to increase this to 3,000 hectares by next year for cultivating wheat and maize. Arda emphasizes the importance of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in these endeavors, noting that 19 of its 21 estates are now fully functional as the authority works to enhance national food security.

Source: Heraldonline