Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve and Theseus Shambare
ZIMBABWE is accelerating plans to localise fertiliser production in response to the ongoing global supply bottlenecks triggered by geo-political tensions while also pushing for a coordinated regional procurement system within Southern Africa to insulate the region from volatile external shocks and escalating input costs.
Government under the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa has already set up dedicated Cabinet committee to drive progress towards domesticating production as a key strategy to slashing the country’s multi-million-dollar import bill and stabilising food security.
The urgency for localisation has been amplified by tensions in the Middle East, particularly the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical narrow waterway for global shipment of natural gas, urea and ammonia, which are key components for nitrogen based fertilisers. Its closure has sent shockwaves through the agricultural sector.
With transits through the strait dwindling due to the conflict, the supply of these essential raw materials has been severely restricted.
This has directly impacted SADC member states, where fertiliser accounts for up to 40 percent of production costs, squeezing already vulnerable smallholder farmers.
In an interview with Zimpapers on the sidelines of the recent SADC Ministers of Agriculture meeting in Victoria Falls, the Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, Dr Anxious Masuka, revealed that a robust framework was being implemented locally.
“In Zimbabwe, we are already discussing the localisation of the fertiliser industry and there is a cabinet committee that is focusing on that and we have made very important progress in that regard,” he said.
Dr Masuka noted that these national efforts are designed to be upscalled to the regional level, aligning with a push for a coordination of production through localisation but also coordination of procurement. He highlighted Zimbabwe’s historical role in the sector.
“You will recall that Zimbabwe was the Africa Centre for Fertiliser Development and we of course wanted this to be recognised as the premier African institute that is responsible for soil health and fertiliser aspects,” he said.
The fertiliser localisation drive is closely aligned with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 agenda, which seeks to transform Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income economy through industrialisation, value addition and beneficiation of local resources.
Under the Second Republic, the revival of strategic industries has become a central pillar of economic policy, with Government prioritising the rebuilding of productive sectors capable of reducing import dependence, strengthening national resilience and unlocking sustainable growth opportunities.
The initiative also advances the objectives of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which places emphasis on industrial growth, job creation, innovation and skills development as key drivers of economic transformation.
The revitalisation of the fertiliser value chain is also expected to stimulate investment, create employment opportunities for thousands of Zimbabweans and develop critical technical skills while enhancing the competitiveness of local industries.
Zimbabwe currently hosts the African Centre for Fertiliser Development (ACFD), an AU facility established in the 1980s.
After years of dormancy, the African union has resolved to fully operationalise the centre, positioning Zimbabwe as a hub for research, training, and technology transfer regarding soil health.
During the Victoria Falls meeting, SADC Deputy Executive Secretary Angele N’tumba warned that the Middle East conflict had resulted in the restriction of movement of agricultural inputs, threatening food and energy security across the region.
In response, SADC Ministers of Agriculture resolved to urgently strengthen regional supply systems. A key resolution was the push to harmonise fertiliser regulations across member states to reduce production costs and facilitate smoother trade. Speaking at the same conference, South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, called for an end to fragmented registration systems that drive up costs, a proposal that garnered regional support.
On the ground, Zimbabwe is already leveraging existing assets to turn the rhetoric into reality. The Mutapa Investment Fund is spearheading a significant revival of key parastatals.
This includes the resuscitation of phosphate concentrate production at Dorowa Minerals with a US$5,3 million injection and plans to refurbish Sable Chemicals to resume production of top-dressing fertiliser, targeting 20 000 metric tonnes initially.
Despite these efforts, the industry faces working capital constraints and high energy costs, with local electricity tariffs reported to be as high as 16,01 US cents per kilowatt hour compared to a regional average of six cents.
However, the Government has directed the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) to prioritise local procurement in tenders to support the nascent industry.
The development of a predicted super El Nino in the 2026/27 season has added further impetus to these plans, making the push for affordable, locally produced fertiliser a cornerstone of the nation’s climate-proofing strategy.
During last week’s SADC’s Committee of Ministers responsible for agriculture meeting, delegates warned that continued dependence on imports, climate shocks and global geopolitical tensions are exposing the region to growing food insecurity risks.
The meeting proposed the establishment of regional cereal reserves, regional fertiliser reserves and early warning systems alongside joint fertiliser procurement mechanisms to protect countries heavily dependent on imports.
The resolutions come at a time when countries across Southern Africa are still recovering from the effects of droughts and fluctuating global fertiliser prices which have increased production costs for farmers.
Acknowledging the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the ministers noted that disruptions have raised concerns over future fertiliser availability and affordability ahead of upcoming farming seasons.
Agriculture remains the backbone of most SADC economies, sustaining more than 70 percent of the region’s population.
