Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo
Herald Reporter
THE economy has entered its take-off stage where spending on infrastructure development is now the order of the day as evidenced by the boom in the number of cement manufacturing firms establishing operations in the country.
Various million-dollar cement production plants are being established in Zimbabwe, and their proliferation is in direct response to increased construction activities countrywide.
West International Holdings Zimbabwe is investing US$1 billion in a cement manufacturing plant in Hurungwe.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce said once operational, the plant is expected to produce 1,2 million tonnes of clinker and 1,4 million tonnes of cement annually.
So far, the project is employing over 100 people and upon completion, 2 000 jobs will await the Hurungwe, Karoi, Magunje, Tengwe communities and other surrounding areas.
“Cement will be cheaper in abundance to satisfy demand from the construction sector,” said the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
Chinese firm, JainQiang Cement Pvt Ltd, is setting up a cement manufacturing plant with the capacity to produce 50 000 tonnes per month, in Hwange.
Construction for the plant began in April and is now 95 percent complete.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce said the plant will ensure uninterrupted cement supplies and reduce the country’s import bill.
“This development will significantly reduce the cement import bill and make cement available and affordable in the Zimbabwean market.
“The project will also employ a great number of people in need of jobs,” said the Ministry.
Another Chinese firm, Shuntai Investment, is setting up a US$70 million cement plant in Chegutu, which is expected to start full production next year, with a projected output of 800 000 tonnes of cement annually.
It currently employs 300 people and will employ at least 4 000 once operational.
Analysts have noted that Zimbabwe is at its economic take-off stage and as such, construction grows astronomically.
Economic and Political commentator Mr Dereck Goto said the surge in cement manufacturing companies in Zimbabwe was more than just sectoral development but a signal of confidence in the country’s economy and leadership.
“Cement is a backbone product in infrastructure, housing, and industrial projects, so the fact that investors are committing capital to this industry shows faith in Zimbabwe’s growth trajectory and in the policies that are stabilising our macroeconomic environment.
“From an economic perspective, this boom means increased capacity for domestic production, reduced reliance on imports, and improved price competitiveness in the local market.
“More firms also create a healthier, more competitive industry, which stimulates efficiency, innovation, and ultimately benefits consumers,” he said.
Mr Goto said the boom in cement manufacturing companies was also reflective of Zimbabwe’s gradual industrialisation, the opening of space for private sector growth and the alignment of the Second Republic with the needs of both investors and citizens.
“It is a vote of confidence in the country’s present and a building block for its future.
“In terms of employment and livelihoods, every new cement plant translates into hundreds of direct jobs and thousands of indirect ones through supply chains — from quarrying and transport, to construction and retail.
“This is the kind of broad-based job creation that not only uplifts communities, but also strengthens disposable incomes and rural industrialisation,” he said.
Another analyst Mr Kudzai Mutisi said Zimbabwe was turning into a “giant construction site”
“The proliferation of cement manufacturing companies in Zimbabwe is in direct response to the construction boom in Zimbabwe.
“As Zimbabweans get richer and richer, the entire country has turned into a giant construction site.
“There is now a huge demand for cement from the private and public sector, thus attracting investors who want to cash in on the construction boom,” he said.
Mr Mutisi said the increased demand for cement was one of the reliable indicators of a robust and growing economy.
“The supply of cement in Zimbabwe is expected to significantly increase in the near future, sparking healthy competition among suppliers. This may lead to a much-needed decrease in the price of cement in Zimbabwe.
“The construction industry has a sprawling value chain that stimulates many sectors of the economy at once. The investors who are building cement manufacturing plants have total confidence in the Zimbabwean economy and the sustainability of the country’s economic development,” he said.
