Coline Dzavakwa CEREAL and beverage maker Nestlé Zimbabwe is set to commission a new roller dryer to complement the three that are already part of the company’s manufacturing plant. A roller dryer is an industrial machine that uses heated rollers to dry materials by applying pressure and heat, removing moisture. It’s commonly used in food processing and other industries to dry various substances, including liquid or paste-like materials, and can be used to dry tuberous and bulbous crops. The commissioning, which will be presided over by the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mangaliso Ndhlovu, is part of the company’s plant expansion project that targets to increase production significantly. Nestlé Zimbabwe invested US$7 million into the fourth roller dryer. Nestlé Zimbabwe corporate communications officer, Ms Tavia Matikiti, said this would enable the company to meet local demand and support its export requirements in the region and abroad. “Nestlé Zimbabwe is among local manufacturers that are investing heavily in Zimbabwe’s economic growth and vision of becoming an upper-middle income society by 2030. “The new roller dryer is expected to increase capacity to manufacture cereals by over 35 percent. Nestlé Zimbabwe boasts of manufacturing the popular Cerevita cereal that has become a strong breakfast brand, while our journey of growth and development has seen us contribute to employment creation,” she said. Ms Matikiti said currently, the company’s average monthly output is 730 tonnes but with the introduction of the fourth roller dryer, it will enhance their cereal production capacity by 35 percent. She said this advancement not only streamlines supply chain efficiency but also enables them to respond more swiftly to market demands, ensuring reliable supply to both local and export markets. “This investment aligns seamlessly with Zimbabwe’s Industrial Reconstruction and Growth Plan, reinforcing national priorities such as food security, skills development and economic empowerment. Crucially, the investment is employed not only within our operations but throughout the entire value chain, from farming logistics, packaging to maintenance,” she added. The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has been working closely with the private sector to spur economic growth. Through the Zimbabwe Reconstruction and Growth Plan, the Ministry has held a series of engagements and signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with the private sector to set the momentum for inclusive industrialisation.