By Nigel Pfunde
Harare- ZIMBABWE has commissioned a specialised honey testing laboratory aimed at unlocking European and international market opportunities for the country’s honey industry, officials announced on Wednesday.
The state-of-the-art facility, established under the Zimbabwe Bee for Economic Empowerment (Zim-BEE) Project, will provide analytical services including pesticide residue analysis, honey adulteration detection, and verification of botanical and geographical origin in line with Codex Alimentarius standards.
The EUR 1.5 million initiative is funded by the Trade Capacity-Building Program of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and implemented
by Expertise France in partnership with ZimTrade, Zimbabwe’s national trade development organisation.
ZimTrade Chief Executive Allan Majuru said the facility addresses growing demands from international buyers who now require certified laboratory reports rather than general quality assurances.
“International buyers no longer rely solely on general quality assurances but require certified laboratory reports that verify product integrity,” Majuru said.
“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 Department of Veterinary Services will manage the laboratory as the national competent authority, providing testing services aligned with international market requirements.
Since its launch on March 3 2025, the Zim-BEE Project has supported more than 650 beekeepers across production clusters in Matabeleland North, Mashonaland East and Manicaland through training in modern apiculture techniques, business management, and improved beekeeping equipment.
AFD Project Manager Lou Cambarrat-Roux said the initiative demonstrates the potential of the honey sector to drive economic resilience.
“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,” Cambarrat-Roux said.
“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.”
The laboratory commissioning marks a milestone in developing Zimbabwe’s national quality infrastructure, with officials expecting the facility to support increased honey exports and improve incomes for local beekeeping communities.
The Zim-BEE Project, running through to 2027, includes Training-of-Trainers programmes in apiculture, support for developing a National Residue Monitoring Plan and the establishment of the testing facility. The initiative aims to strengthen Zimbabwe’s prospects of expanding honey exports to international markets.
