According to local press, Chinese company Zimbabwe Zhongxin is preparing to build a US$50 million cement plant in Masvingo, Zimbabwe, where considerable limestone deposits have been located. Construction on the facility could begin during the first half of 2014 and will create around 400 temporary jobs. Negotiations are currently ongoing, as the company must comply with all indigenisation and empowerment laws and regulatory permits before construction can begin.
The cement market in Zimbabwe is predicted to grow due to new infrastructure and construction projects in the region. Demand for cement is expected to significantly increase in the medium to long-term as a result of infrastructure backlog of approximately US$14 billion. Under the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation, the government is investing in utility services such as water and sanitation infrastructure, public facilities, information communication technology, energy and power supply and transport.
The main threat to the construction industry in the country remains the lack of international finance and foreign investment.
Edited from various sources by Rosalie Starling