BEITBRIDGE — Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has hailed the newly established US$30 million Orange Ville juicing plant in Beitbridge as a major step toward advancing Zimbabwe’s rural industrialisation and inclusive growth agenda.
Speaking during a tour of the facility this week, Chiwenga described the investment as a model of agro-industrial transformation capable of revitalising rural economies through value addition and job creation.
“This project demonstrates how local resources can be harnessed to drive industrialisation, empower communities, and promote sustainable livelihoods,” said Chiwenga. “It is a clear example of our commitment to building industries closer to where raw materials are produced.”
Operational since July 2025, the Orange Ville plant processes hundreds of tonnes of fruit daily and has already crushed more than 25,000 tonnes of oranges. The facility currently employs 290 workers, with projections indicating the potential creation of up to 3,000 jobs as operations expand.
Chiwenga commended the project’s management and investors for supporting government efforts to strengthen agricultural value chains and reduce post-harvest losses. He noted that such ventures would not only boost export earnings but also contribute to Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) objectives of achieving an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
“By adding value to our agricultural produce within our borders, we are keeping wealth in our communities and ensuring that rural areas become centres of productivity and growth,” the Vice President said.
Local farmers in Beitbridge and surrounding districts have also welcomed the plant’s opening, saying it has created a reliable market for citrus growers and spurred renewed interest in commercial fruit production.
The Orange Ville project forms part of a broader government drive to promote rural industrialisation, enhance agro-processing, and improve livelihoods in the country’s southern provinces.
