Chronicle Editor
Lovemore Zigara, Midlands Correspondent
SINO Zimbabwe Cement Company (SZCC) has started construction of the $50 million tile and brick plant.
The plant is located at Indiva Farm where SZCC is also housed. SZCC is a joint venture between the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the Chinese government through China Building Materials Corporation (CBMC).
The groundbreaking ceremony for the project was done in 2015 but work could not start due to financial challenges.
The CBMC which was supposed to fund the project was forced to court other investors to bankroll the project.
A new Chinese investor who is registered in Mauritius was roped in last year and has availed funds to kick start the construction of the project.
SZCC managing director Mr Yong Wang said completion of the project was now expected in August this year.
“Work on sewer and water reticulation system started in September and at the beginning of December we started the real construction of the factory.
“The project will be completed by August,” said Mr Wang.
About 500 people are expected to be employed during the construction stage and the factory is employing over 200 people.
The plant’s raw materials are the quarry and coal ash which are by-products of SZCC operations.
The company’s target is to produce bricks for both local and export market. — @lavuzigara1
derick.khumalo