Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa has commissioned a Ksh3.1 billion medical cannabis farm and processing plant at Mount Hampden set up by Swiss Biocieuticals Limited.
The plant, fitted with the first line of medicinal cannabis oil processing, is aimed at stimulating other bio-medical solutions and pharmaceutical products for both local and international markets.
The plant will produce cannabis (mbanje or dagga) for medical and scientific purposes only, according to President Mnangagwa.
“This milestone is a testimony of the successes of my Government’s Engagement and Re-engagement Policy. It further demonstrates the confidence that Swiss companies have in our economy through their continued investment in Zimbabwe. “I extend my profound congratulations to the Swiss Biocieuticals Limited for this timely investment in the medicinal cannabis farm, processing plant and value chain, worth US$27 million,” President Mnangagwa said.
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The President who termed the growth of medical cannabis as a breakthrough asked other investors in the sector to consider investing in Zimbabwe, saying that ‘Zimbabwe is Open for Business’.
“I challenge other players within the medicinal cannabis sub-sector to speedily set up their enterprises, focusing on value addition and beneficiation. It is disappointing that since 2018, only 15 out of the 57 entities issued with cannabis operating licences have been operational,” said Mnangagwa.
Medical cannabis is used for different medical purposes including relieving insomnia, anxiety, spasticity, and pain to treating potentially life-threatening conditions such as epilepsy.
According to Havard, marijuana appears to ease the pain of multiple sclerosis, and nerve pain in general. Marijuana is also used to manage nausea and weight loss and can be used to treat glaucoma.
