Zimbabwe to stop cement imports by mid-2026
Zimbabwe expects to stop importing cement around the middle of next year as several major production facilities reach full operation, Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu said. The nation will then begin selling its extra output to neighboring countries, he added. Chinese-backed projects are driving the expansion, with Shuntai Investment preparing to launch a $120 million plant in Chegutu that will produce 800,000 tons annually. Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote is planning a $1 billion investment that includes another cement factory.
Two plants that recently opened in Hwange are already supplying the domestic market with products made from coal ash and clinker. The government has been issuing import permits with volume caps to address shortages, but traders exhaust their quotas quickly because infrastructure and housing construction continue accelerating. A 30 percent tariff on foreign cement has failed to resolve supply problems as power outages and other challenges limit what existing manufacturers can produce.
Economists warned that high manufacturing expenses could prevent exports from succeeding. Cement costs $10 to $12.50 per 50-kilogram bag in Zimbabwe compared with $5.50 to $6.45 in Eswatini, Namibia, and Zambia. The minister suggested that switching from road haulage to rail transportation could lower prices and make local products competitive across the region.
