Story by John Nhandara
Zimbabwe’s friendly investment climate continues to attract foreign capital, with a team of South African investors jetting into the country to work on implementing various investment deals targeting rural communities.
The team from Kwasi Zabantu Mission in South Africa touched down at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport on Saturday on a follow-up visit to work on modalities for implementing various investment agreements.
The investors were in the country last year where they expressed interest in investing in the agriculture and beverages sectors with the aim of transforming rural communities.
“We are here to see if we can do some development in the rural areas. We want to work with people. Our experience is we know how to work with the land. We have a bottling plant,” investor, Mr Louis Engelbrencht said.
Businessman and investment advisor, Mr Paul Tungwarara, who welcomed the visitors upon arrival, said the investors have a good track record in South Africa where they have set up one of the largest bottling companies.
Mr Tungarwarara is convinced the investors are capable of modernising the country’s rural communities.
“These are missionaries coming from South Africa. They are more interested in remote areas to develop them into small towns or cities. We have witnessed it in South Africa. They have developed shopping malls in the rural areas and this is the concept they have brought to Zimbabwe. This is the second time they are here to implement,” he said.
Economists are of the view that the country’s sound economic policies buttressed by the Zimbabwe is Open for Business mantra, have reignited renewed interest from potential investors across the globe.