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[QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 68285, member: 636"]
Vice President Dr. Constantino Chiwenga has called for increased investment in research-driven innovation within Zimbabwe's manufacturing sector to enhance local production and reduce dependence on imports. Speaking after a tour of the newly-commissioned National Foods milling plant in Bulawayo, Dr. Chiwenga emphasized the importance of leveraging science and technology to strengthen industrialization and conserve foreign currency currently spent on imported basic food items.

Dr. Chiwenga highlighted the plant as a symbol of the country’s commitment to modernizing agro-processing infrastructure. He pointed out the strategic challenge of relying on imported wheat for bread production, which strains foreign currency reserves and undermines the potential of the local agricultural sector. The Vice President urged National Foods to take a leading role in developing local solutions, working closely with national research institutions like the Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre (SIRDC) to improve the quality and yield of Zimbabwean wheat.

National Foods Group CEO Mike Lashbrook shared that the new US$8.6 million milling plant would boost production by 25%, providing 300 tonnes of flour per day and reducing the need for imports. Dr. Chiwenga’s visit to Bulawayo is part of his broader tour to assess progress on government-backed projects aimed at promoting industrialization and economic growth across the country.
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