President ED Unveils US$100m Tobacco Project

President Emmerson Mnangagwa today commissioned a US$100 million state-of-the-art tobacco processing plant, marking one of Zimbabwe’s most significant industrial milestones in recent years and a major boost to the country’s value-addition agenda.

The facility, hailed as a cornerstone in Zimbabwe’s economic transformation strategy, positions the nation to shift from exporting raw tobacco leaf to producing high-quality processed tobacco products locally. Officials say the plant will strengthen the entire tobacco value chain and enhance the country’s competitiveness on the global market.

Speaking at the commissioning, President Mnangagwa said the investment reflects Zimbabwe’s commitment to modernising its industries and accelerating economic growth.

“This project is a powerful statement of our determination to move from exporting raw commodities to exporting finished, high-value products. It is a critical step toward building a resilient, industrialised economy,” he said.

The plant is expected to create thousands of direct and downstream jobs, stimulate new economic opportunities, and drive technological advancement across multiple sectors. Industry experts say the facility will significantly increase processing capacity while improving quality control and production efficiency.

Government officials underscored the project’s alignment with **Vision 2030**, emphasising that large-scale industrialisation and value addition remain central pillars of the country’s long-term development strategy.

“This commissioning signals a new era of innovation and self-sustained growth,” an official said. “Zimbabwe is firmly positioning itself as a competitive global player in tobacco processing and manufacturing.”

The plant opens at a time when the country is pushing for increased beneficiation across all major export sectors as part of wider economic reforms aimed at boosting productivity, employment, and export revenues.