Dinson plans US$15m cement plant

DINSON Industrial Group is set to invest US$15 million in a new cement manufacturing plant in Manhize, aimed at boosting local production and reducing Zimbabwe's reliance on cement imports.

The project will be located within the Dinson Special Economic Zone near Mvuma and is expected to produce more than 300 000 tonnes of cement annually once operational. Production is projected to begin by mid-2027, with about 150 jobs expected to be created during the initial phase.

Company project director Mr Wilfred Motsi said the investment forms part of a broader industrialisation drive linked to the firm's expanding operations in Zimbabwe, including steel, smelting and mining activities under the wider Tsingshan-linked industrial portfolio.

He said the cement plant will make use of industrial by-products from steel production, particularly slag, as a key input material, aligning with government policies on beneficiation and value addition. The company also plans to source limestone locally from areas such as Lalapanzi and Masvingo, which is expected to stimulate downstream supply chains.

Zimbabwe's cement sector has been under pressure due to rising demand from infrastructure development, mining expansion and housing projects, with domestic production currently unable to meet consumption needs. This has led to continued reliance on imports to fill supply gaps.

Authorities have indicated that new entrants into the sector are expected to ease shortages, stabilise prices and support industrial growth as part of broader efforts to strengthen local manufacturing capacity and reduce imports.