A senior Zimbabwean government official has lauded the efforts of Dinson Iron and Steel Company (DISCO) in propelling the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region towards industrialisation. The Chinese firm’s integrated steel manufacturing plant, established in Zimbabwe’s Midlands Province, is set to elevate industrialisation not only within Zimbabwe but across the entire southern African region.
Willard Manungo, the Deputy Chief Secretary for Policy Analysis and Coordination and Development Planning in the Office of the Zimbabwean President and Cabinet, extolled the project’s potential during a tour of the plant by delegates attending the SADC Industrialisation Week in Harare. He emphasised that the steel plant is poised to revitalise and unlock the economic and industrial potential of Zimbabwe, SADC, and the broader African continent.
“At its optimum, the plant is anticipated to become one of the largest integrated steel works on the African continent,” stated Manungo. “The output from this plant will suffice to support the entire SADC region and beyond. In the context of national and regional industrialisation, value addition in the steel sector is a cornerstone of comprehensive industrial development, and we fully appreciate this substantial investment by the Dinson Group in Zimbabwe.”
The economic benefits for Zimbabwe are manifold, including significant employment creation and export generation, alongside ancillary infrastructure development around the factory. Additionally, the power plant accompanying the steel manufacturing unit will contribute excess energy to the national grid, thereby mitigating power shortages in both the country and the region.
Manungo also suggested that Zimbabwe could derive valuable lessons from the Dinson Group’s model, advocating for the embrace of similar Chinese investments in other economic sectors, such as agro-industry, to further enhance value addition.
“We are appreciative of the Chinese government’s readiness to align with Zimbabwe’s developmental goals. Our partnership with China is grounded in a shared vision for Zimbabwe’s progress,” Manungo remarked.
The steel plant commenced pig iron production in June and is on track to produce 600,000 metric tons of carbon steel in its initial phase. This figure is projected to escalate to 1.2 million, then 3.2 million, and ultimately 5 million metric tons per annum in subsequent phases, underscoring the scale and ambition of the project.
This development signifies a critical step forward in the broader industrialisation agenda of the SADC region, reinforcing the transformative potential of strategic international partnerships in fostering sustainable economic growth.
