Parque Nacional da Gorongosa Moçambique

Traditional ceremony included the participation of various administrative structures

Mar 24, 2009 - Gorongosa District

The dried fruit factory, recently established by Gorongosa National Park in the village headquarters of Gorongosa, received a traditional blessing from the Chief of Tambarara this past 12th of March.  It was a traditional ritual of communication with the spirits of ancestor leaders about the now functioning entry of a business so that it will prosper in its activities.

The environment was hopeful and enthusiastic at the blessing ceremony of that factory, that united more than 100 people and authorities of the public authorities and local government Administration, representatives of GNP, leaders of community authorities, public figures of civil society, among other invited guests.

The joy was contagious because the dried fruit factory, before even being inaugurated, already began to expand the income of close to 54 families and generate jobs for the population of communities of the region.   30 male and female workers that are working in the factory were recruited from these communities.

The President of the Municipal Council of the town of Gorongosa, Moreze Joaquim Cauzande, using words, highlighted of the importance of the recently established industrial business and applauded the new project, saying that it now expands the income of the workers and catalyzes the economy of the region.

In another development, he urged the farmers to increase the production of bananas, mangoes, pineapple, papaya, tomatoes, oranges, and tangerines so that this new factory will not stop because of a lack of raw material.

As for the president of the Carr Foundation and member of the GNP Supervision Committee, Greg Carr, the dried fruit factory is trying to promote the sustainable development of the district of Gorongosa.


In his turn, the administrator of the District of Gorongosa, João Oliveira, talked about the importance of the factory for the region and reminded people of the relations maintained between GNP administrators and the District Government so that intentions will become reality and will make income conditions better as well as the lives of the population of the local community.

The manager affirmed being “very satisfied” with now having a factory that will buy fruits at a more compensable price and will guarantee the sale of all excess the agriculturalists will be able to produce from now and into the future.

“The factory brings many advantages for us.  It guarantees the sale of all production, generating profits and bettering the lives of all who live in Gorongosa”, says João Oliveira.

“Starting today our fruit will no longer spoil because of a lack of customers, because we have a guaranteed client supply,” concluded our source.


The population commemorated with the best present that their memory could register with many songs, whistles, and drumming, showing their happiness and gratitude to the person, Greg Carr, whose foundation is jointly working with the Government of Mozambique on the restoration of GNP and who financed the implantation of the dried fruit factory in Gorongosa.

Remember that the recently blessed factory, with an installed capacity to dry up to 4 tons on fruit per day, processes fruits with the highest production rate in the region: bananas, mangos, pineapples, oranges, and tangerines.  The production, still in storage, will be put into a national and regional market, namely South Africa.

Carlitos Sunza
Department of Communications/GNP