ZIMBABWE – President Mnangagwa has commissioned a new Prodairy Milk Processing Plant in Ruwa, Zimbabwe that will aid the country in addressing milk consumption gap.

According to the Herald, the new facility which is a division of a consumer goods focused group, Innscor Africa Holdings becomes Zimbabwe’s third UHT Processing Plant after Dairibord and Dendairy.

The President welcomed the investment which may also help Zimbabwe reduce its reliance on imported milk products such as milk powder.

“We welcome the investment into the processing plant, which is set to stimulate several benefits across the entire value chain.

“I am advised that this plant produces fast-moving diary and dairy-related products.

This is a commendable response by Prodairy to my Government’s thrust towards value addition and beneficiation of local resources.

“It is our hope that the company’s products will enter the domestic market at favourable prices thereby widening consumer choice,” said President Mnangagwa.

Statistics show that Zimbabwe’s per capita milk consumption is around 7 litres, lagging behind consumption rates of most of the countries on the continent.

At the end of September 2018, Zimbabwe’s milk output stood at 48 million litres, out of annualised demand of 120 million litres while national dairy production was 67 million litres last year.

Innscor Group CEO Mr Julian Schonken, said the group has so far invested around US$36 million in growing its portfolio.

“The plant and our backward integration project in the dairy sector is a perfect example of bringing the value added process to Zimbabwe to help the country reduce its dependence on imports and create employment.

It shows we have the ability to produce world-class fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) products right here in Zimbabwe.

“Our home-grown and proudly Zimbabwean group continues to invest in light manufacturing platforms locally,” he said.

Since the change in government leadership and favourable economic prospects, Zimbabwe has continuously received investments from both local and foreign investors.

In March this year, President Emmerson Mnangagwa commissioned a Cremora Filling Plant for Nestlè Zimbabwe worth US$500,000.

This was another show of confidence by global industry leaders.