Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, Victoria Falls Reporter
A cement shortage is affecting construction projects in most parts of the country, triggering a staggering 70 percent price increase that has left consumers and builders reeling.
The crisis has seen the price of a standard 50kg bag of cement shoot up from US$10 to a steep US$17, dealing a heavy blow to the already strained construction industry and individual homeowners.
Confirming the dire situation, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, Raj Modi, revealed that the shortage stems from a combination of held-up imports at the border and local production challenges.
“I am aware about the problem that we are facing at the moment in the market. I also went to buy cement yesterday in Bulawayo and they said USD$17
“We discussed this issue with my Chief Director and they told me that there is a backlog at the border. So, that is what is delaying them. Some people imported the cement, but it is still at the border, they have not yet been cleared,” said Dep Min Modi.
The Deputy Minister further explained that domestic production has been hamstrung.
“At the moment, there is a shortage of crinkles that are used for the manufacturing of the cement and there is also a breakdown in the machinery. So, at the moment, only PPC is working and the demand is so high that PPC cannot supply enough to the market,” he said.
He assured that import permits had been issued to alleviate the shortage, but the clearance delays have nullified these efforts.
Bongani Ndlovu