Farai Mabeza
Zimbabwe has strengthened its bid to access premium international markets after commissioning a specialised Honey Testing and Profiling Laboratory expected to improve the competitiveness of the country\'s honey exports, particularly in Europe.
The new state-of-the-art facility, commissioned on 1 July 2026, was established under the Zimbabwe Bee for Economic Empowerment (Zim-BEE) Project, a €1.5 million initiative funded through the Trade Capacity-Building Programme of Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and implemented by Expertise France in partnership with ZimTrade.
Managed by the Department of Veterinary Services as the national competent authority, the laboratory will provide internationally recognised testing services required by export markets.
These include pesticide residue analysis, honey adulteration detection, verification of botanical and geographical origin, and comprehensive quality profiling in line with Codex Alimentarius standards.
The facility is expected to remove one of the biggest barriers facing Zimbabwean honey exporters by enabling them to provide the certified laboratory reports increasingly demanded by international buyers.
\"International buyers no longer rely solely on general quality assurances but require certified laboratory reports that verify product integrity,\" said Allan Majuru, Chief Executive Officer of ZimTrade.
\"The establishment of this laboratory will enable locally produced honey to meet the requirements of major international markets while supporting rural communities to participate more effectively in global trade.\"
The laboratory represents a major milestone in strengthening Zimbabwe\'s national quality infrastructure and is expected to boost confidence in locally produced honey while opening new export opportunities across regional and global markets.
Since its launch in March 2025, the Zim-BEE Project has supported more than 650 beekeepers in Matabeleland North, Mashonaland East and Manicaland through training in modern apiculture and business management, supplying improved beekeeping equipment, and promoting sustainable, climate-smart production practices.
AFD Project Manager for Zimbabwe Lou Cambarrat-Roux said the initiative demonstrated the sector\'s potential to drive economic growth.
\"Through this grant, AFD is proud to support the Zimbabwean honey sector that has a strong capacity to be a lever for economic resilience and development. The Zim-BEE project highlights the importance of building sustainable value chains, paving the way for future high-impact commercial partnerships that deliver positive outcomes for both people and the planet,\" she said.
The new laboratory is expected to accelerate Zimbabwe\'s efforts to expand honey exports by ensuring producers can consistently meet the stringent quality, traceability and certification standards required in high-value international markets.
