Zimbabwe Set to Become Regional Hub for Vape Production
In a groundbreaking development for the tobacco industry, Zimbabwe is poised to become a regional hub for the production of vape products, according to recent announcements made by former Zimbabwean Ambassador to China, Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa. The country plans to establish a multi-billion dollar vape production factory that will extract nicotine from tobacco stalks, leaves, and flowers to create non-smoking alternatives, capitalizing on its position as the fourth largest tobacco exporter in the world.
The factory, tentatively set to be located in Karoi, Hurungwe, the largest tobacco-producing district in Zimbabwe, is expected to process tobacco not only from Zimbabwe but also from neighboring countries such as Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia. This development positions Zimbabwe as a central player in the tobacco value chain within the region, with the potential to create significant employment opportunities and boost economic growth.
Ambassador Mutsvangwa, speaking at a Zanu PF Mashonaland West Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting in Chinhoyi, revealed that the board of the investor recently met in China to finalize the modalities of setting up the factory. “There is going to be a very big industry to extract nicotine from the by-products after selecting the premium tobacco leaves,” he stated, emphasizing the interest of Chinese firms in setting up factories in Zimbabwe due to the country’s high tobacco production levels.
In addition to the vape factory, Zimbabwe is also set to become a major producer of cannabis seeds, with US$30 million already invested in cannabis production and a further US$400 million earmarked for a factory to produce cannabis seeds. These developments, alongside other multi-billion dollar investments facilitated by President Mnangagwa’s Second Republic, are anchoring economic growth and industrialization in the country.
The upcoming Mapinga Energy Park, which will produce lithium batteries using Zimbabwean lithium, cobalt from the DRC, and graphite from Karoi, is expected to position the country for cellphone production. These projects, along with the recently operational Manhize Steel Plant, are transforming Mashonaland West into an industrial hub. Plans are also underway to establish a railway line linking the port of Beira and Manhize, further strengthening the country’s infrastructure and economic prospects.
As Zimbabwe embarks on this transformative journey, the establishment of the vape production factory and the accompanying investments in the tobacco and cannabis industries are expected to strengthen the country’s currency, the ZIG, and solidify its position as a regional powerhouse in the tobacco value chain.
News source:
Nation to set up vape factory
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