Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has commended the newly commissioned Orange Ville Juicing plant in Beitbridge, describing it as a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s drive toward rural industrialisation and sustainable economic growth. During a recent tour of the facility, Chiwenga lauded the project as a practical demonstration of the Second Republic’s commitment to transforming rural economies through value addition, employment creation, and infrastructure development.
Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana confirmed the Chiwenga’s visit via X (formerly Twitter), highlighting that the US$30 million facility — which began operations in July 2025 — has already processed more than 25,000 tonnes of oranges. The plant currently employs 290 workers and has the capacity to expand its workforce to over 3,000 once fully operational.
Chiwenga praised the project’s investors for complementing government efforts to strengthen the agricultural value chain and ensure that rural communities benefit directly from their natural and agricultural resources. “This plant is not just about producing juice,” he said. “It is about transforming livelihoods, promoting exports, and building an economy that leaves no one and no place behind.”
The Orange Ville Juicing plant stands as one of the largest agro-processing ventures in southern Zimbabwe. Its establishment is part of a broader government policy to decentralise industrial growth from urban centres to rural areas. The initiative is closely aligned with Vision 2030 — Zimbabwe’s blueprint for achieving upper-middle-income status through inclusive and sustainable industrialisation.
For decades, citrus farming in Beitbridge and the broader Matabeleland South region has suffered from limited market access and post-harvest losses due to lack of processing facilities. Farmers were forced to sell raw produce to middlemen or across the border at low prices. With the opening of the juicing plant, local producers now have a reliable domestic buyer that adds value to their crops and opens doors to export markets in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
“This project is a true embodiment of our industrialisation policy,” Chiwenga noted. “For too long, rural farmers have worked hard only for others to reap the profits. This plant changes that dynamic — it brings industry to the people and ensures that communities earn fair value for their produce.”
VP Chiwenga Hails US$30 Million Orange Processing Plant in Beitbridge
The employment impact of the plant is already being felt in Beitbridge District. Hundreds of residents have been hired as machine operators, quality controllers, packers, and administrative staff. The plant also sources fruit from hundreds of smallholder farmers in nearby villages, thereby creating indirect jobs in transport, packaging, and logistics.
According to management, Orange Ville Juicing plans to establish out-grower schemes that will train and contract local farmers to cultivate citrus under standardized quality conditions. The company is also setting up a modern research and training centre to equip farmers with knowledge on pest management, irrigation, and sustainable farming practices.
This approach, Chiwenga said, exemplifies the Second Republic’s focus on creating self-reliant communities and promoting inclusive growth. “We are witnessing the realisation of President Mnangagwa’s call to make rural industrialisation the anchor of our economic development. This is what it means to walk the talk of Vision 2030,” he stated.
The Orange Ville facility has been designed to meet international food safety and processing standards, allowing Zimbabwe to re-enter lucrative global markets for fruit juices and concentrates. With a production capacity exceeding 150,000 litres per day, the plant is expected to export to South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, and other regional markets.
Industry observers view the investment as a strategic addition to Zimbabwe’s agro-processing portfolio, which has been expanding in recent years through projects in dairy, sugar, cotton, and horticulture. The juicing plant also complements the Beitbridge Border Modernisation Project — a key trade and logistics hub that connects Zimbabwe to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
“The link between agriculture, industry, and trade is the foundation of our development model,” Chiwenga said during his address. “When we process our own produce, we create jobs, save foreign currency, and build a more resilient economy.”
The Orange Ville Juicing initiative was developed through a public-private partnership involving local entrepreneurs, regional financiers, and government agencies. Officials say such partnerships are essential to achieving Zimbabwe’s industrialisation goals, given limited fiscal space and the need to attract both local and foreign investment.
Government has pledged continued support for agro-based ventures through incentives such as tax breaks, export rebates, and infrastructure upgrades in industrial zones. The Ministry of Industry and Commerce is also working on policies to promote local sourcing of raw materials and reduce reliance on imports.
Mangwana described the Beitbridge plant as “a shining example of what can be achieved when government policy meets private-sector innovation.” He added that similar investments are being considered in other districts to process mangoes, tomatoes, and sugarcane.
For the residents of Beitbridge, the Orange Ville Juicing plant represents more than an industrial facility — it is a symbol of renewed hope and opportunity. It signals that economic transformation is no longer confined to Harare or Bulawayo but is reaching even the most remote corners of the country.
As Vice President Chiwenga concluded his tour, he reiterated that Zimbabwe’s prosperity would only be achieved through unity, hard work, and innovation. “Beitbridge has shown what is possible when vision meets action,” he said. “This is the future of Zimbabwe — a country that adds value, empowers its people, and builds prosperity from the ground up.”
Source- Byo24
