The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland South Province, Hon. Albert Nguluvhe, today conducted a familiarisation visit to Orangeville in Beitbridge District to appreciate the company's operations, identify opportunities for growth, and engage management on challenges requiring Government support to enhance the ease of doing business.
The Minister was accompanied by party officials and officials from the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC).
Addressing management and staff, Hon. Nguluvhe said the visit was intended to gain a deeper understanding of the company's operations and to identify areas where Government could facilitate investment and economic growth.
He emphasised that the role of Government and the civil service is to implement national development priorities and ensure that Matabeleland South produces enough to satisfy domestic demand while creating products for export. He noted that increasing productivity across all sectors remains essential to growing the province's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and achieving Zimbabwe's Vision 2030 of becoming an upper middle-income economy.
The Minister also encouraged Orangeville to leverage the expertise of returning Zimbabweans from neighbouring countries, noting that many possess valuable technical and industrial skills that can strengthen the company's operations and contribute to national development.
Orangeville management highlighted that the company, established in 2024, has rapidly expanded into one of the country's significant citrus processing investments. The company has invested US 5 million beyond the initial US$20 million invested during commissioning.
The company further announced that its state-of-the-art juicing plant has now been certified to supply citrus juice to Schweppes, marking an important milestone in its growth.
Orangeville currently employs approximately 350 people, with plans to increase employment to at least 1,500 workers within the next five years. Due to the seasonal nature of citrus production, about 60 percent of the workforce is employed on a seasonal basis. The local market remains the company's largest destination for its products.
Management also advised that, in addition to its existing water sources, the plantation utilises approximately 40 percent of water from Zhove Dam to support its operations.
On Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the company acknowledged that, as a relatively new investment, its community programmes are still developing. However, notable initiatives already undertaken include rehabilitation of local roads, supplying orange processing residue to surrounding communities for livestock feed and potential wildlife use, and the construction of approximately 90 employee housing units together with two hostels, all supported with electricity and water services.
Management indicated that production and export statistics will be available at the conclusion of the current harvesting season.
The company also outlined challenges affecting operations, including inconsistent citrus supplies from surrounding farmers, who occasionally divert produce to more lucrative markets, and high transport costs that negatively impact competitiveness. To address these challenges, Orangeville is developing a 5,000-hectare citrus plantation to secure reliable raw material supplies through its own production.
As part of the visit, Hon. Nguluvhe toured both the citrus processing plant and the plantation, where he observed value addition processes that produce by-products such as orange essential oil, which is used in the cosmetics industry, and orange residue that can be processed into cattle feed supplements or pellets.
The Minister encouraged the company to explore the production of fodder to support livestock farmers as the country prepares for the anticipated El Niño-induced dry season. He also urged management to strengthen its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives by constructing a workers' clinic and a preschool to improve the welfare of employees and their families.
In closing, Hon. Nguluvhe commended Orangeville for its significant investment and contribution to employment creation and agro-industrial development in Matabeleland South Province.
He reaffirmed Government's commitment to supporting investors, emphasising that his office maintains an open-door policy and stands ready to assist in resolving challenges that may affect investment and business growth.
The Minister further stressed that meaningful Corporate Social Responsibility remains vital in ensuring that "no one and no place is left behind" in Zimbabwe's development agenda. Orangeville management welcomed the recommendations and pledged to strengthen its community development initiatives as the company continues to expand.