Seed Co shakes up top management

STAFF WRITER

Seed Co Limited, Zimbabwe’s largest seed producer, has restructured its senior management as part of a sweeping strategic review aimed at repositioning the business for long-term competitiveness after a sharp revenue decline.

The review has resulted in the departure of two senior executives and several managers across the company’s strategy, commercial and technical functions, as the group aligns its organisational structure with changing market realities.

Chief executive Morgan Nzwere said the exercise was driven by the need to ensure that Seed Co’s structure remains fit for purpose and capable of supporting future growth in an increasingly complex operating environment.
As part of the realignment, the services of certain high-ranking officials were deemed no longer aligned with the company’s evolving strategic needs.

Those affected include Mr Patrick Mutandwa, strategy implementation executive; Locadia Ganjani, commercial director; Tirivashe Vushemasimba, processing and artificial drier manager; Christine Mumbire, key accounts manager; and Patience Phiri, public relations and media officer.
Also exiting the group is Patrick Spadin, who served as agro transformation manager for Africa and as a representative of Limagrain, a shareholder in the company. Mr Spadin previously served as a non-executive director before taking up an executive role.
“This is a standard exercise where we conduct business reviews to determine if certain positions remain aligned with our strategic goals or if specific competencies are still relevant to the organisation,” said Nzwere.

He dismissed suggestions that the changes amounted to a broader retrenchment programme, stressing that the departures were targeted and directly linked to the strategic review process.
Seed Co’s revenue for the first half ended September 2025 fell 39 percent year-on-year to US$11,6 million, reflecting pressure from a shifting agricultural cycle, a smaller winter wheat season and lower exports as regional seed supplies normalised.
Mr Nzwere described the period as one of “strategic adjustment and disciplined execution,” noting that while trading activity was lower than the previous year, early signs of stabilisation were emerging.
He said the operating environment had begun to improve, supported by enhanced price stability, moderating inflation and growing market confidence.
“We are preserving value through strict cost control and advancing our innovation and product development agenda,” said Nzwere.
Operating expenses remained broadly in line with the prior year, underlining management’s focus on efficiency within a fully dollarised cost structure.
The company’s cash flow position turned positive during the period, aided by tighter working capital management, improved debt collection and inventory optimisation.

However, finance costs increased as Seed Co relied on short-term facilities to bridge delays in receipts from debtors.
Management said the ongoing review would continue to shape the group’s operating model as it adapts to evolving market dynamics and positions itself for sustainable growth beyond the current cycle.