In a groundbreaking development for the tobacco industry, Zimbabwe is set to become a regional hub for vape product production. Former Zimbabwean Ambassador to China, Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa, announced plans to establish a multi-billion dollar vape production factory. This facility will extract nicotine from tobacco stalks, leaves, and flowers to create non-smoking alternatives, leveraging Zimbabwe’s status as the fourth-largest tobacco exporter in the world.
The factory is tentatively planned for Karoi in Hurungwe, Zimbabwe’s largest tobacco-producing district. It will process tobacco from Zimbabwe and neighboring countries like Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia. This positions Zimbabwe as a central player in the regional tobacco value chain, 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, shared that the investor’s board recently met in China to finalize the factory setup. “There will be a very big industry to extract nicotine from the by-products after selecting the premium tobacco leaves,” he stated, highlighting Chinese firms’ interest in Zimbabwe due to its high tobacco production levels.
In addition to the vape factory, Zimbabwe is poised 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 cannabis seed factory, the country is set to make substantial strides in both the tobacco and cannabis industries. These initiatives, facilitated by President Mnangagwa’s Second Republic, are anchoring economic growth and industrialization in Zimbabwe.
Another significant project is the upcoming Mapinga Energy Park, which will produce lithium batteries using Zimbabwean lithium, cobalt from the DRC, and graphite from Karoi. This project aims to position Zimbabwe for cellphone production. Alongside the recently operational Manhize Steel Plant, these developments 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. This solidifies Zimbabwe’s position as a regional powerhouse in the tobacco value chain and sets the stage for a prosperous future.