Zimpapers Logo

Bianca Mlilo, Business Reporter
ZIMBABWE has signed an agreement of intent with Namibia which will see farmers in the country exporting fresh farm produce to the southern African country.

In its monthly newsletter, ZimTrade said the horticulture sector in Zimbabwe was a low hanging fruit, which, with positive interventions, can be turned around for recovery and sustainable export growth.

“As part of efforts to enhance productivity and export competitiveness in horticultural sector, stakeholders recently met in Harare to map the way forward for the sector under the EU-funded Trade and Private Sector Development Programme,” said ZimTrade.

“On a related development, Zimbabwe and Namibia have signed an agreement of intent, which could see Zimbabwe exporting fruits and vegetables to Namibia.

“Currently, ZimTrade is co-ordinating the participation of small holder farmers to supply the Namibian market with fruits and vegetables such as bananas, avocadoes, potatoes and butternuts.”

Namibia is an arid country which borders Botswana whose farming conditions are not suitable to grow fresh produce.

The country’s import bill of fresh produce, on average from 2010 to 2015, is about $60 million per annum.

ZimTrade said Zimbabwe would do well to take advantage of this gap, which can become a contribution to the national fiscus.

“South Africa is the major supplier of fresh produce to Namibia, with Zimbabwe supplying negligible quantities (only $1,000 worth of fresh produce was supplied in 2014). This, therefore, presents opportunities to export fresh produce to that country,” said ZimTrade.

“Namibia is a middle income market with a Gross Domestic Product per capita of $5,467. In addition, the country has a booming tourism market and provides access to the lucrative southern Angola market.

“Trade between Zimbabwe and Namibia is governed by the SADC Trade Protocol and the Zimbabwe-Namibia Bilateral Trade Agreement, which offer preferential treatment of qualifying products into each other’s market.”