Lupane Veggie Guys introduce new product

LUPANE Veggie Guys, a local company in the Matabeleland North provincial capital, has introduced a new range of indigenous juices, umkhemeswane, in a development that is set to trigger economic empowerment for rural communities through a value chain.

Following the success of producing a one-of-a-kind chilli sauce last year, Lupane Veggie Guys continues to strategically diversify by introducing a new range of indigenous juices in line with the rural industrialisation agenda.

Through rural industrialisation, Government hopes to stem rural-to-urban migration, which saps growth from the African countryside, transferring it to towns and cities.

Rural industrialisation, which hinges on the Second Republic’s devolution policy, involves nurturing agro-processing start-up enterprises in rural areas through financial and technological support via venture capital funding and Government agencies.

Lupane Veggie Guys showcased for the first time at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in April, and its new juices attracted so much attention that may possibly come with local and foreign investment.

One of the directors Mr Makhosi Godonga Mahlangu said the umkhemeswane juice will be on the market in the next three weeks.

Lupane Veggies Guys

The company already has umnyi, umviyo, ginger, and baobab juices which are a hit on the market.
Mr Mahlangu said since rural areas such as Tsholotsho and Lupane are endowed with a lot of fruit trees, sourcing the ingredients has not been difficult.

“It’s exciting to see we have initiated a value chain that will develop our rural communities. We have visited a number of villages in these two districts to assess the development and ripening of the fruit as they are the ones supplying us,” he said.

“The fruit is almost mature and we are expecting a bumper harvest from the households. By doing so we are also creating employment for the various households as we do not just take the fruits, but order them at a price.”

Mr Mahlangu said the fruits are promising and they are already placing orders.

He said this year they have come up with various strategies that will ensure that they get all the fruits from the villagers which will then be transported using local buses.

Mr Mahlangu said their vision is to see their indigenous juices competing with well-known exotic flavours.
Last year, Lupane Veggie Guys introduced umkhemeswane juice to the market during the Munch and Sip festival.

“We have people who are placing orders from as far as the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and Ireland. However, we are struggling to meet with demand because the machinery to process requires reconfiguration and redesigning,” said Mr Mahlangu.

“Due to this problem, it’s difficult for us to export as the demand is too high to meet, and without the proper machinery, we are not likely to meet the deadlines. For instance, there is a dealer in Australia who wants 100 cases a week and another in the UK.”

Mr Mahlangu said they are working with ZimTrade and the company now has a one-stop centre shop at Lupane Business Centre.

He said there are over 40 different indigenous fruit trees in Zimbabwe and he is in the process of using them to develop jams and juices. — chronicl