Pic credit: Min of info
By Chiedza Nyabadza
Senior Reporter
His Excellency President Emmerson Munangagwa said Davipel’s growth reflected entrepreneurial vision, resilience, steadfast determination and indeed, strong and unwavering patriotism.
President Mnangagwa said this while officially commissioning Davipel Holdings’ new Headquarters, Agri-Milling, Stockfeed and Snack-Manufacturing Plants in Sunway City today calling the investment a test case for Zimbabwe’s industrialisation drive.
“This Zimbabwean owned company has transformed from humble beginnings into one of our country’s leading agro-industrial area.
“The fact that you continue to exhibit growth not only in manufacturing ingenuity and also in employment levels demonstrates the soundness of your business ideal,” he said.
The wholly Zimbabwean-owned company, founded by Mr. D. Norupiri and Amai P. Norupiri, has expanded into four integrated divisions which includes snacks, stockfeed, maize milling and freight services.
This comes eight years after commissioning the company’s first US$12 million facility in June 2018.
The milling lines produces SUNNY brand cereals and mealie-meal, and a stockfeed plant with high hourly tonnage output,meanwhile the snacks division manufactures JUMBO corn snacks with an installed capacity of approximately 5,000 metric tonnes per month.
President Mnangagwa said such investments strengthen domestic manufacturing and challenged Davipel to accelerate the establishment of stockfeed distribution depots nationwide.
“Investments of this nature strengthen domestic manufacturing, reduce imports, increase value addition and create sustainable employment particularly for women and the youth.
“I hereby challenge Davipel to accelerate the establishment of stockfeed distribution depots nationwide to align with government’s devolution and decentralisation thrust, and to also partner emerging entrepreneurs to set up subsidiary plants in provinces and districts,” he said.
Under NIDEP-2, which aligns with the National Development Strategy 2, Government has set targets to grow manufacturing output from the current US$7 billion to US$12 billion, achieve annual sector growth above 5%, increase exports to US$1 billion and raise industrial capacity utilisation to 75%.
President Mnangagwa said such development in the area can also benefit the citizens.
“The targets are not merely economic statistics, but signify expanded employment opportunities, stronger enterprises, higher incomes and improved quality of livelihoods,” said President Mnangagwa.
He also cited progress at Sunway City Special Economic Zone, which now houses more than 40 enterprises, and reiterated that Zimbabwe is open for Business thereby calling on companies to leverage trade agreements to expand exports across SADC, the African continent and beyond.
The Turkish companies were commended for strategic and successful partnerships with Davipel since 2018, and also the whole government of Zimbabwe welcomes greater Turkish investment for technology transfer to improve production efficiencies.
As this event concluded, His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa received a gift from Davipel Holdings Group Chairman Mr Davison Norupiri and his wife Mrs Pelagia Norupiri.
Giving gifts to visitors and guests is a culture that Mr Norupiri has mastered and nurtured at the AFM New Covenant Church in Chisipite where he is the Board Chairman.
Vice Presidents Gen.Rtd C Chiwenga and Col.Rtd K Mohadi, Defence Minister Hon. Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Industry Minister Hon. N Ndhlovu and the Turkish Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Her Excellency Berna Versteden, and several government officials also attended the ceremony.
