Steel production expected to start by year end

Story by Josephine Mugiyo

THE first phase of the Dinson Iron and Steel project in Manhize is nearing completion, with projections indicating that the entity will be ready for the production of steel by the end of the year.

The plant, which is in its first phase of construction, is set to be the largest producer of steel in the country.

Once the project reaches the fourth phase of construction, Zimbabwe will be a powerhouse on the African continent in terms of carbon steel production.

With work to put up structures for the first phase of the mine having started last year, a visit to the site revealed that work is progressing well and the set targets to produce steel by the end of the year or early January are within reach.

Dinson Iron and Steel Company Project Manager Mr Wilfred Motsi told the ZBC News that once complete, the first phase will produce 600 000 metric tonnes of carbon steel per year, which surpasses the country’s requirements of 500 000 metric tonnes.

“According to our times lines, we are expecting to produce iron steel by December or January. The first phase will see us producing 600 000 metric tonnes. We are concentrating on supplying our requirements first, and the country consumes about 500 000 metric tonnes. The government of Zimbabwe is currently using US$2 billion to import steel, we are importing our steel from the overseas market,” he said.

The mine has a staff complement of more than 1400 people drawn from the local community, with some coming from other provinces of the country.

The company’s public relations manager, Mr Joseph Shoko said the company is working closely with the community, noting that most of the employees have benefited from on-the-job training.

“We can say this company has become more like a vocational training centre as most of the employees were trained here to execute their tasks. We have also linked with primary school heads to work with us and let us know about children who drop out of school due to fees constraints and we employ their parents,” he said.

At a homestead not too far from the mine, the ZBC News crew caught up with Mr Solomon Kamwana and Mr Elias Mutovorera, who have been employed by the company, having a late lunch and preparing to go to the evening shift.

“All the buildings that you saw at the mine, we were a part of the building team. It’s the work of our hands. This mine is also more of a school for us. When we first started working there we thought we were Knowledgeable about some aspects of construction but we discovered we had so much more to learn,” they narrated.

As these two join the more than 1 400 workers at the mine, they take pride in being able to provide for their families, as the Second Republic emphasises on job creation.

The Manhize Project is being constructed at a cost of US$1,5 billion.