Story by Brenda Muchato
His Excellency the President and ZANU PF First Secretary Cde E.D. Mnangagwa yesterday commissioned the New Vertical Mill Plant under phase 2 of the Khayah Cement Expansion Project (formerly Larfarge) in Msasa, where he challenged the company to broaden their production strategies as they strive to penetrate local, regional and international markets.
"I, therefore, challenge Khayah Cement Limited to broaden the production strategies to meet the marketing and sales mix for a broader footprint on the local, regional and international markets. As a company involved in cement and limestone production and related products, you are a strategic cog in the ultimate realisation of Vision 2030. Your cross-cutting nature and importance in the overall growth and modernisation of our country should not be taken lightly", President Mnangagwa said.
President Mnangagwa also urged Khayah Cement Limited to pursue a robust export-led growth strategy.
"Act locally and think globally. In this regard, I exhort Khayah Cement Limited to also pursue a robust export-led growth strategy. The enlarged market within our region and under the African Continental Free Trade Area must be fully explored. The broader market allows free movement of goods, services and investments as well as cross-border trade and financial integration across our beloved mother continent, Africa", His Excellency said.
He went on encouraging the industry to continue manufacturing and promoting Zimbabwe's local goods and products.
"It is equally important that flagship investments such as this one drive productivity growth, create more jobs, propel import substitution and contribute to the growth of our Gross Domestic Product. In keeping with our Local Content Strategy, industry is encouraged to continue manufacturing and promoting the use of our local goods and products", he said.
The commissioning of the Vertical Mill Plant by President Mnangagwa signals a journey towards a prosperous and empowered upper middle income society by 2030 and will result in low production costs and the ability to supply high strength cement of improved quality and reduced production costs.
President Mnangagwa commended Khayah Cement for a playing a critical role in supplying cement to construction of different programmes such as road rehabilitation and dam construction.
"In the area of infrastructural development, the Second Republic is rolling out programmes and projects to upgrade and modernise the country's infrastructure. l commend Khayah Cement for playing a critical part, including supplying cement to the ongoing boom of construction programmes such as road rehabilitation, dam construction, energy infrastructure development and housing projects, being undertaken by both the public and private sectors", said President Mnangagwa.
He added, "In line with my government's ongoing development that leaves no one and no place behind, I challenge the company to deliberately make their products available, at competitive prices in our rural areas. The successes we have scored in the agriculture and small-scale mining sectors, among others, must translate to an improved quality of housing and business infrastructure in our communal, farming and mining areas"