Zimbabwe is scheduled to commission the US$1 billion Mvuma steel plant in 2022 and it will be Africa’s biggest steel plant.
The project which is at the behest of China’s Tsingshan Holding Group has commenced developing an iron ore mine and a carbon steel plant in Manhize, Mvuma –south of Harare.
The ground-breaking ceremony, undertaken by a local subsidiary of Chinese global steelmaker, Tsingshan Holdings, is expected to be presided over by President Mnangagwa in two months’ time.
The company is expected to create 6,000 jobs.
Early this week, government agencies in the Midlands province, led by the Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Mr Larry Mavima,held a consultative meeting at the project site to discuss modalities for its implementation.
Mavima told stakeholders that they wanted a smooth takeoff of the project therefore everyone must play their part. He added:
We don’t want the investor to be denied any service they need when the Government and His Excellency, the President have approved the creation of this project. Let us ensure that it is implemented within the time frame agreed by Government.
He said some huge projects had failed in the past because of “falling into that trap of not following relevant procedures.” Minister Mavima told the stakeholders:
We don’t want anyone who will say, ‘I was not consulted.’ We will remove all landmines that you might encounter because this project will not only help the local community but also the GDP of the province and at national level. This project is being incorporated into our provincial economic plan for the next five years, which is similar to the Government’s National Development Strategy 1 blueprint.
With a dam over Munyati River, a new bridge, a tarred road, a 40-kilometre rail link to Gweru and an electricity substation – the project is expected to revamp the country’s infrastructural development deficit and will make a town of its own.
The Company, through its Zimbabwean subsidiary Afrochine, already clarified that there will be no relocation of villagers.
Already in production is ferrochrome, which is essential for production of steel.
