Online Reporter
Lincoln Towindo in Lubumbashi, DRC
Zimbabwe should leverage its growing steel and coal industries to increase exports into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where demand for both commodities is surging, Mines and Mining Development Deputy Minister Engineer Polite Kambamura has said.
Speaking after touring stands of Zimbabwean companies exhibiting at the 2025 edition of DRC Mining Week here, Eng Kambamura said the country’s participation at the continental showcase underscored its intention to deepen trade ties with the DRC, particularly by taking advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Considering that we now have the largest steel plant in the region, we need to take advantage of that with the DRC,” he said.
“We need to market our steel from Manhize in the DRC, where there are many companies that need steel.
“This is a huge market, and this means our relationship has to be strengthened by taking advantage of the AfCFTA.”
The multi-million-dollar Dinson Iron and Steel Company plant in Manhize is the largest integrated steelworks in the region that is expected to anchor Zimbabwe’s ambitious industrialisation drive by supplying locally made steel for construction and manufacturing as well as exports.
In recent years, Zimbabwe has also seen notable growth in coal production, driven by increased investment in thermal power and industrial energy supply.
Deputy Minister Kambamura said coal was another critical export commodity Zimbabwe could supply to the DRC, where local production is limited but industrial demand is high.
“We need to open up a trade corridor — talk of the Lobito Corridor, which links Angola, Zambia and the DRC,” he said.
“We can take advantage of that to ship material or supplies from Zimbabwe, be it coal, because they rarely mine coal here, but their industries are looking for it.”
Seven Zimbabwean companies from the mining and agricultural value chains are showcasing their products and services at the 2025 DRC Mining Week.
These include Charter Seeds, Megabreeze, Zambezi Gas and Coal Mines, GB Holdings, James P Dixon, Powerdrive Engineering and Boltgas International.
The mission, which is being facilitated by ZimTrade, the national trade development and promotion organisation, aims to integrate Zimbabwean companies into the DRC’s mining value chain by tapping into the country’s growing demand for mining inputs, equipment and support services.
The annual DRC Mining Week is one of Africa’s leading mining expos and investment platforms, attracting thousands of participants from across the continent and beyond.
It brings together mining companies, government officials, financiers, equipment suppliers and service providers to explore partnerships and investment opportunities across the mining value chain.
“Our presence here shows the strength of our relationship with the DRC,” said Eng Kambamura.
“Zimbabwe is a mining country and so is the DRC.
“There are opportunities in service provision, in sharing technical expertise, in finding markets for minerals.”
He said several investors attending the exhibition had expressed interest in exploring opportunities in Zimbabwe, signalling the need for greater collaboration between the two countries.
“The two countries need to work on some symmetry, some synergies, so that both our mining sectors benefit and grow.
“We encourage companies in Zimbabwe to take up opportunities in the DRC,” he added.
The event will run until Friday.
Peter Tanyanyiwa