Judith Phiri [email protected]
Zimbabwe is stepping up efforts to expand local cement and fertiliser production as the Government seeks to reduce reliance on imports, strengthen industrial capacity, create jobs and improve the availability of critical inputs for the construction and agricultural sectors.
The plans form part of the country’s broader industrialisation drive, with investments in manufacturing expected to support value addition, reduce pressure on foreign currency and improve the resilience of domestic supply chains.
Responding to questions during the 2027 National Pre-Budget Seminar in Bulawayo on Thursday last week, Industry and Commerce Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu said the shortage of cement does not reflect a lack of manufacturing capacity.
Zimbabwe’s annual cement demand is estimated at 1,6 million to 2,5 million tonnes, while the country’s installed production capacity is higher at approximately 2,6 million to 3,4 million tonnes.
However, effective local output has historically lagged behind installed capacity — sitting closer to 1,7 million to 1,9 million tonnes — due to various challenges, including clinker shortages and kiln downtime.
“The demand for cement in this country has more than tripled in four years. This is a demonstration of how this economy is growing. That said, the biggest problem we have had is that we relied a lot on PPC Zimbabwe at Colleen Bawn for clinker, which is the key raw material.
“In fact, around 90 percent of cement is clinker. We are only having investments in clinker manufacturing in Mazowe, Mashonaland Central. There is a company that has made massive progress and by April next year their clinker will be ready,” he said.
“Khayah Cement has come back; they are manufacturing clinker. It is just that they are overwhelmed by the demand that is there. There is another one in Chegutu and they are also very close to production.”
Minister Ndlovu said the problem in the interim period entails supporting imports, because they wanted to support the growth of the construction industry.
The minister assured that by next year the cement industry will be able to supply the local market and even explore exports.
Zimbabwe faces a major fertiliser paradox: it possesses an installed annual production capacity of two million tonnes (which is several times higher than national requirements), yet local factories operate at low capacity, forcing the country to rely heavily on expensive imports
“Similarly with fertiliser, I am happy to say that Dorowa Minerals Limited is on the mend. In fact, they have indicated that by February next year, they would have manufactured about 56 000 metric tonnes of fertiliser, a combination of NPK and topdressing.
“We have got new companies that have come on the block. One in Beitbridge, Palm River and by May 2027, they would have started manufacturing fertiliser from coal,” he added.
“We have got one in Norton linked to this tile and ceramics manufacturer, Sunny Yi Feng. They are also making significant progress in coming up with a coal-to-fertiliser manufacturing plant.
“We are aware that currently we are relying on imports, but we believe again that the growth in the agriculture sector has led to an increasing demand for fertiliser.”
He said their task was to make sure that in the shortest period of time, they meet this demand.
These projects, for cement and fertiliser valued in millions of dollars, are expected to address supply constraints as demand from the construction industry and agriculture grows.
Economists have said the success of the investments will depend on timely project completion, reliable energy supplies, access to finance and competitive production costs.
If implemented as planned, the projects could reduce import bills, strengthen domestic manufacturing and improve the availability of essential inputs for farmers and the construction industry.
