Story by Tafara Chikumira
A local steel producing company, Steel Makers, has embraced the Second Republic’s open for business mantra which has seen the firm’s capacity utilisation jumping from 40 percent in 2017 to around 65 percent.
The Redcliff-based steel-producing firm is witnessing massive growth under the Second Republic as they are producing medical oxygen for local hospitals to satisfy domestic and international markets.
“We have embarked on an expansion project which is going to add value to raw material (iron ore) that will entail increasing capacity by tenfold which will help us to meet our local and export demands.
“We have put in place a five-year road map to ensure that we meet our targets. It is work in progress and we are very excited that the environment we are operating in is very conducive,” said Steel Makers Company Secretary, Mr Lewis Karowangoma.
Government has pledged its support to create an enabling environment for the expansion of businesses.
“The government applauds steel Makers for adding value to its products a move that will assure maximisation in exports. Exports should continue to grow to strengthen our export earnings.
“I am reliably informed that the Redcliff plant exports are ranging from US$300 000 to US$400 000. As a government of the Republic of Zimbabwe, we applaud Steel makers for investing in medical oxygen production,” said Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Owen Ncube.
Steel Makers is one of the local firms that has taken advantage of the Second Republic’s deliberate move to create a conducive environment for business to thrive through reindustrialisation and retooling.
