MARONDERA- Beta Bricks is in the process of installing a US$10 million clay brick plant in Melfort,
Goromonzi district with production set to commence in the first quarter of this year.
Claudious Makwindi who chairs the provincial development committee’s value addition and growth
thematic committee said the plant will address the shortage of the product in Mashonaland East and
beyond.
The plant will be expected to increase product supply by 150 million for the period extending to June
2025 in three phases.
The first phase is expected to be complete by May this year and it will see 90 million bricks produced
annually while under the second phase, production will increase to 120 million bricks. Phase 3 will
see production being increased to 150 million bricks annually.
The increase in brick production is expected to compliment current output at the organisation’s
Mount Hampden plant where over 100 million bricks are currently produced annually.
“The company has already put its machinery on site. Core plant equipment for the Melfort plant
consist of an extruder, pug mill and sealer, crushers, roller mills and accessories was ordered, and
has since been delivered from United States of America, with other equipment from South Africa
and China. The company has also received and started installation of two 1 MVA Transformers and
metering units at the site,” Makwindi said.
Beta Bricks group chief executive officer Godfrey Manhambara is on record stating that the
installation of Melfort plant will ease pressure on the current product demand.
He said: "The installation of the Melfort plant is in response to the market and in line with our
overall mission to be the number one integrated infrastructural inputs group in Zimbabwe.
“In keeping with our vision to remain pioneers in the industry, the Melfort plant will be another
game changer to the infrastructural inputs supply industry. Beta Bricks will be able to timeously
meet market demand, provide quality products at competitive pricing in an environmentally
responsible manner and reward the shareholder with sustainable value growth.”
Meanwhile, said Mukuyu Winery which has been operating at low capacity was being resuscitated.
“The company imported most of their raw materials and they have been operating at low capacity
owing to foreign currency challenges. The solution to this is simply to revive their grape fields and
they have already done that. During the 2021-2022 season, they managed to put 21 hectares under
grapes and that will help to sustain their operations,” he said.