MUAST, OCP partner to set up tamarind processing plant in Binga

Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (MUAST), working with Morocco’s OCP Group, is setting up a tamarind processing plant in Binga, a development expected to boost the local economy and drive rural industrialisation.

The project marks a major shift for communities in Binga and the Zambezi Valley, where tamarind known as busika in Tonga has long been consumed in its natural form. Value addition is set to begin next year, creating jobs and opening new market opportunities.

Binga RDC Engineer Zibusiso Nyoni said construction of the plant is progressing well, with completion expected in the first quarter of 2026. Twenty one locals are already employed at the site.

MUAST says the factory will process five tonnes of tamarind a day using modern agro-processing technologies. Products will include juice, pulp, spreads and other value-added items currently being developed. Over seven tonnes of fruit have already been sourced from local communities, with more than USD7 000 paid out to producers.

MUAST Vice Chancellor Professor Justice Nyamangara said the project will boost the district’s value chain, create jobs for women and youth, and support small enterprises and cross-border trade with Zambia.

Local workers have welcomed the initiative, saying it has provided them with their first source of formal income and helped them support their families.

The tamarind plant, indigenous to Binga’s hot, dry climate, remains valuable for its cultural and nutritional benefits.