Business / Economy
Sino-Zimbabwe to build a multi-million dollar cement plant in Masvingo
22 Aug 2011 at 20:41hrs | Views
Zimbabwe could soon be a major regional cement producer with Chinese firm, Sino-Zimbabwe, announcing plans to build the country's fourth manufacturing plant in the city of Masvingo.
This follows discovery of huge limestone deposits in the Nyanda Mountains on the outskirts of Zimbabwe's oldest urban settlement.
Indications are that the Masvingo City Council and Sino-Zim have already signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will see the Chinese company building a multi-million dollar cement plant.
Sources say work on the plant will being before the year is out.
Masvingo Mayor Femius Chakabuda this week said Sino-Zim had requested that his council guarantee reliable water supplies before they commit to setting up a the cement plant.
Chakabuda said they were upgrading water pumping capacity from the current 34 megalitres per day to about 48 megalites.
"Sino Zimbabwe is planning to build a new cement plant after discovering huge deposits of limestone and we have already signed a Memorandum of Understanding because the Chinese are asking for guarantees that we will be able to supply them with water for their plant," Chakabuda said.
He added that Sino-Zim also wanted to build a residential suburb that will cater for the projected 4 000-plus cement plant workers.
Masvingo City Council believes the investment will result in creation of more than10 000 direct and indirect jobs.
Zimbabwe has cement plants in Harare, Gweru and Gwanda and a fourth one could see the country directly rivaling South Africa in supplying the region with the commodity.
This follows discovery of huge limestone deposits in the Nyanda Mountains on the outskirts of Zimbabwe's oldest urban settlement.
Indications are that the Masvingo City Council and Sino-Zim have already signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will see the Chinese company building a multi-million dollar cement plant.
Sources say work on the plant will being before the year is out.
Masvingo Mayor Femius Chakabuda this week said Sino-Zim had requested that his council guarantee reliable water supplies before they commit to setting up a the cement plant.
Chakabuda said they were upgrading water pumping capacity from the current 34 megalitres per day to about 48 megalites.
"Sino Zimbabwe is planning to build a new cement plant after discovering huge deposits of limestone and we have already signed a Memorandum of Understanding because the Chinese are asking for guarantees that we will be able to supply them with water for their plant," Chakabuda said.
He added that Sino-Zim also wanted to build a residential suburb that will cater for the projected 4 000-plus cement plant workers.
Masvingo City Council believes the investment will result in creation of more than10 000 direct and indirect jobs.
Zimbabwe has cement plants in Harare, Gweru and Gwanda and a fourth one could see the country directly rivaling South Africa in supplying the region with the commodity.
Source - southerntimesafrica
