On Thursday the 17th of September 2020 the Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Honourable Nqobizitha Ndhlovu officiated on a ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the state of art Cashel Sawmill Chimanimani.
The initiative will see the production of quality sawn timber for the construction Industry, pallet manufacturing, crafting and furniture.
The newly implemented Sawmill was justified on sustainable utilisation of pine resources of 5.021 hectares which is held for over three plantation blocks which stretchs from North to South the Zimbabwe-Mozambique border Nyambeya, Mudimu and Tandaai.
The estate which lies on the sprawling Chimanimani mountain range is endowed with rich well drained soils, cool temperatures ans a terrain class that favours pine trees plantation of superior mean annual yields of 16 cubic metres per hectare per annum.
When complete, the sawmill which is self-financed from own resources is estimated to cost Allied Timbers Zimbabwe over USD$6.5million.The sawmill is estimated to employ 95% of the people in Chimanimani district under Chief Mutambara.
The Ceremony was also attended by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Climate,Tourism and Hospitality Industry Mr Munesushe Munodawafa, Minister of State for Manicaland Province Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba, Acting CEO Allied Timbers Zimbabwe Mr Remigio Nenzou, ZimParks Director General Mr Fulton Mangwanya and EMA Director General Mr Aaron Chigona.
