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Trust Freddy-Herald Correspondent
STEEL giant Dinson Iron and Steel Company (Disco) has created 2 500 jobs at its Manhize plant with 90 percent hailing from local communities and plans to add another 500 workers by early next year.
Energy and Power Development Minister Edgar Moyo, Permanent Secretary Dr Gloria Magombo and other senior Government officials toured the Dinson Iron and Steel Plant in Manhize on Monday and were given updates on progress.
Presenting an update on the company’s operations, Disco projects director Mr Wilfred Motsi said the Manhize plant should reach its target of creating 3 000 direct jobs by early next year.
“We have 2 500 employees, but that figure is going to increase up to 3 000 employees for the first phase when we finish our rolling plant, which is almost complete,” said Mr Motsi.
The company was expecting to complete the first plant before the end of this year or the beginning of next year.
Disco aimed to create 6 000 additional jobs in the second phase and eventually reach 16 000 full-time positions upon implementing the third phase.
Mr Motsi said the current first phase had already generated thousands of indirect employment opportunities and was expected to peak at 16 000 indirect jobs by beginning of next year.
The second phase would create 36 000 indirect employment opportunities, while the final phase will lead to 96 000 indirect jobs.
“And 95 percent of these employees are Zimbabweans and 90 percent of them are from the local communities. We are getting workers from the three provinces surrounding us, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West and Midlands,” said Mr Motsi.
The remaining five percent were experts drawn from China and other countries.
Mr Motsi also expressed optimism about the market, citing overwhelmingly positive responses to product samples.
“We have begun testing the regional market, sending select products to Zambia and Tanzania, and the feedback has been extremely encouraging,” he said.
Online Reporter