Council approves major Agricultural and Mining Partnership with South African Firm
The Bulawayo City Council has granted authority to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Afrigrow Agri Holdings, a South African-based company, for the implementation of two catalytic development projects aimed at transforming the local economy.
The partnership will focus on two major initiatives: ZIM-GROW-AGRI, an agricultural industrialization programme centered on developing the city’s farms into modern agricultural and agro-processing hubs, and ZIM-GROW-GOLD, aimed at modernizing and formalizing artisanal and small-scale gold mining activities.
According to the proposal presented to the Finance and Development Committee on June 23, 2026, ZIM-GROW-AGRI seeks to develop agricultural value chains through modernization of production and agro-processing activities.
Meanwhile, ZIM-GROW-GOLD will promote formalization, professionalization and beneficiation of artisanal and small-scale mining activities through skills development, market access and investment attraction.
The City Economic Development Officer noted that the proposals align broadly with Council’s objectives of promoting economic development, investment attraction, employment creation and value addition. The projects are intended to attract local, regional and international investment into Bulawayo and position the city as a center for economic development and innovation.
While the proposal has been approved in principle, Council acknowledged that detailed financial, technical and legal due diligence will be required to establish the viability, affordability and sustainability of the projects before final implementation.
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