Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba/Freedom Mupanedemo
GOVERNMENT has said the granting of Special Economic Zone (SEZ) status to the billion-dollar Dinson Iron and Steel Company (Disco) Integrated Iron and Steel Industrial Park in Manhize, Chirumhanzu, is a direct reflection of the “Zimbabwe is open for business” philosophy.
Speaking during a Midlands provincial media tour of the plant yesterday, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere, said the SEZ designation, granted through the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (Zida), will accelerate investment inflows, industrialisation and job creation.
“The Special Economic Zone status granted by the Government through Zida is in line with the Zimbabwe is open for business philosophy in order to generate as much foreign direct investment as possible in the country,” he said.
Dr Muswere said the development is a product of the Second Republic’s engagement and re-engagement drive, which has opened the door for large-scale foreign direct investment in strategic sectors.
“This steel giant is part of the success stories under the leadership of President Mnangagwa and already we have seen various steel products being produced here for local market and exports in a development that will result in the cutting down on the steel export bill, which was running into a billion annually,” he said.
The SEZ designation allows Disco to act as zone owner, developer and operator, attracting investors across the iron and steel value chain. The park is projected to create up to 25 000 direct jobs and 150 000 indirect jobs at full capacity.
The project — described by President Mnangagwa as a “paradigm-shifting milestone” in Zimbabwe’s industrialisation journey — is part of a broader smart city vision. The development will include steel production facilities, housing, schools, clinics, roads, rail links to Mozambique and the DRC and a hydroelectric dam.
Dr Muswere noted that Disco has already met its first-year target of producing 600 000 tonnes of steel products, including pig iron, billets and bars, with 80 percent destined for export.
He said the plant’s integrated operations, sourcing raw materials locally from Mashonaland East (iron ore), Redcliff (limestone) and Hwange (coke), reflect the Second Republic’s emphasis on beneficiation and value-addition.
“At the same time this reflects in terms of our industrialisation in terms of our sovereignty. For many decades, we have been importing steel products worth billions of dollars, but with the coming on board and because of the magnetic investment environment that has been created by the New Dispensation, where the rallying call has been Zimbabwe is open for business,” said Dr Muswere.
The minister said the plant is an integrated steel works, which is unique in that all the major raw materials required in terms of steel production are produced within the country.
“We have iron ore coming 7km from Mashonaland East province within the Manhize mountain ranges, also have limestone, which acts as the flux coming from Redcliff, we also have the coke coming from Hwange,” he said.
“All these integrated steel works produced in the first phase 600 000 tonnes of different steel products with pig iron, billets and bars, all these products and more contribute to the economic growth, creating thousands of jobs.”
Disco project director Mr Wilfred Motsi said the SEZ status is already drawing other companies to Manhize, aided by incentives such as tax rebates and zero-rated taxes. AVM Zimbabwe and Greendale have signed on to establish operations producing flat sheets and other value-added steel products.
“A lot of employment is going to be created because other industries are coming in. We are talking of other industries related to Disco and value chain area,” he said
Mr Motsi explained that the SEZ designation will not only promote development within the country but also boost export generation, with 80 percent of products slated for export and 20 percent for the local market.
“The SEZ is anticipated to create numerous employment opportunities as other industries related to steel production and value-added services are drawn to the area,” he said.
