By James Muonwa
Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed beverages giant, Schweppes Holdings Africa Limited, through it’s subsidiary Sunrise Citrus Estates, is planning to establish a 2 700-hectare citrus plantation in Beitbridge.
Famed for it’s internationally acclaimed Mazoe Orange Crush brand, the company seeks to grow it raw material source for manufacturing of juices for local and foreign markets.
In a recent statement, Schweppes said, “Sunrise Citrus Estates, a subsidiary of Schweppes Holdings Africa Limited, proposes to establish a citrus plantation in Beitbridge, Zimbabwe…and intends to set up a 2 700 hectare citrus plantation which will create employment for local communities.
“The implementation of the project will enable processing of juice for local and international markets, as well as exporting raw fruit.”
Schweppes Holdings Africa Limited’s subsidiary, Sunrise Citrus Estates, is planning to establish a 2,700 hectare citrus plantation in Beitbridge. The project is expected to create thousands of jobs all along the value chain. An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is already underway.
In a joint statement, Sunrise Citrus Estates and African Sustainability Consultants, which is undertaking consultancy work for the Environmental Impact Assessment on the planned project said: “Sunrise Citrus Estates proposes to establish a citrus plantation in Beitbridge, Zimbabwe. The 2,700ha citrus plantation will create employment for local communities. The implementation of the project will enable the processing of juice for local and international markets as well as export of raw fruit.”