Story by Tamuka Charakupa
THE Second Republic’s rural industrialisation drive continues to grain traction countrywide, with construction of a cement manufacturing plant in Magunje.
Chinese firm, Whi-Zim, is set to invest at least US$1 billion towards the construction of a giant cement plant in the rural community of Magunje, with the initial works already underway.
The investment is expected to start cement production in June next year.
The local community has already started reaping the benefits of this promising colossal project after the employment of over 50 people in the initial stages.
“We have started to benefit from the vision of President Mnangagwa already as the company of this project is set to improve the lives of many. I urge my community to rally behind this initiative whose benefits outweigh a few concerns raised by some villagers,” Chief Chanetsa said.
“As the local community, we never imagined that one-day Magunje would have a plant big enough to employ thousands. As a woman among the first to be employed, I have seen my life change as I can now support my parents,” Ms Melody Chakabva said.
“Apart from employment creation we are also grateful that the investor has already drilled 11 boreholes in this community to complement the government’s efforts of availing potable and clean water to its people,” Councillor, Mr Dosmatter Makumbirofa said.
Updating a delegation from the Office of Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution recently, Whi-Zim Operations Manager, Mr Grant Salim, said construction works are progressing well.
“Site levelling works have been completed, and the facility has since been connected to the national grid. We have also taken delivery of construction materials with preliminary work to set up the plant, and accommodation is now in place. We have also set targets to complete the installation and commissioning of the concrete mixing station and brickmaking machine equipment by the end of May,” he said.
Project co-partner Labenmon Investments local representative Mr Thomas Chidzomba said the establishment of the plant in rural Hurungwe complements the government’s rural industrialisation drive.
“Our choice to establish a plant in Magunje is strategic, aiming to foster rural industrialisation, thereby contributing to the overall development of the region and the realisation of Vision 2030,” he said.
A transmission line to the plant will be constructed while a 47-kilometre stretch that connects the production site to the limestone mining zone is set to be rehabilitated as part of the project.
Once completed, the giant cement plant is expected to leapfrog the provincial Gross Domestic Product for Mashonaland West, which is currently ranked third in the country after Harare and Bulawayo.
The company is projecting a production capacity of 1.2 million tonnes of clinker cement and 1.8 million tonnes of high cement annually.
Whi-Zim Company falls under Yaobai International Holding Limited, formerly known as West International Holding Limited, which is a multinational conglomerate under the Hong Kong-listed company West China Cement Limited.
