Chicken Bird Holdings (CBH), South African giant and the owners of fast-food Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) franchise in the country, is se to invest US $150m in Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector. This will create 1 500 direct jobs and contribute towards the country’s food security.
The investment is in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision of transforming the economy into an upper middle income status by 2030. Currently, the government is now working with CBH to secure three farms where the investment will be implemented.
According to media reports, the company’s chief executive Mr Marthinus Stander has met
President Mnangagwa at his Munhumutapa offices in Harare to outline how they intended to operationalize the kitty.
In a letter to President Mnangagwa, Mr Marthinus explained that the funds will go specifically to the poultry sector. He went on to explain that they have purposed to build a 50 000 broilers per week abattoir, a 500 000 day-old chicks per week hatchery, 30 breeding houses plus 80 broiler houses (of which 48 houses will be contracted out to farmers in the district) and two feed mills. This, he added, will be over a four-year period. Additionally, the growing of maize and soya beans will also form part of the contract grower scheme.
Of the employment opportunities that are projected to come up, direct employment would be for 1 500 people. When fully operational, the country stands to export poultry products and will be guaranteed of sustainable farming.
CBH operates the KFC franchise in the country as well as in seven other African countries.. The company is also an active member of the South African Poultry Association and the Animal Feed Manufacturers Association.
