By Flata Kavinga
Vice-President Gen (Retired) Dr Constantino Chiwenga says the resumption of operations at Sable Chemicals is expected to boost fertiliser supply and support Zimbabwe’s economic development, particularly in the agricultural sector.
Speaking to journalists during a tour of the fertiliser manufacturing plant in Kwekwe, the Vice-President said government was keen to see the company return to full production following refurbishment and maintenance work at the facility.
Vice President Chiwenga said significant resources had been invested to repair the plant in preparation for the restart of ammonium nitrate fertiliser production.
“Two months have been set aside to make all the repairs you are seeing happening, and there is quite a big kit that has been given. We want this plant to work and produce to help in the development of our economy,” he said.
He said the revival of the plant was also aligned with the country’s development agenda outlined in the National Development Strategy 2 and the long-term national blueprint Vision 2030.
“These targets have to be achieved and this plant will play a role in supporting those objectives,” Chiwenga said.
The Vice-President said the expected resumption of fertiliser production would come at a crucial time for farmers preparing for the winter wheat farming season.
“The season that the CEO has been talking about is the winter season that we are now looking towards, which is our wheat season,” he said.
He added that the restart of operations at the plant would also help the country prepare for the main summer agricultural season beginning later in the year.
“We will then go into the main agricultural season starting in October. We should be producing by then, and this will help us to cater for the shortages that have been perennial and which have been affecting our agricultural sector,” he said.
Sable Chemicals is expected to produce ammonium nitrate fertiliser used mainly for top dressing in crop production, a key input for improving agricultural yields in Zimbabwe.
