Mash-West warms up to US$1bn cement plant

THE Magunje community in Mashonaland West has welcomed the setting up of a US$1 billion cement manufacturing plant in the area by Chinese investors. West International Holding and Labenmon Investments (Pvt) Ltd are partners in the project. Even though the project is not projected to be finished until 2025, the recent signing ceremony offered the province optimism for a better future. Marian Chombo, the minister of state for provincial affairs and devolution for Mashonaland West, told The Herald that the province will employ workers from the cement industry, as planned by its blueprint to create 5,000 jobs for locals. As we ship the goods out of the province, jobs in sectors like construction and transportation will increase. The people of the province now enjoy a higher standard of living, according to Min Chombo. "The start of the Hurungwe project will present a chance to expand and develop Karoi into a more prosperous town. Aside from the boom being created by the production of cereals and tobacco, the facility will breathe new life into the rural community. The factory will boost the province's manufacturing sector's GDP, which is now less than five percent. In addition to offering long-term, steady employment prospects, manufacturing creates the framework for the growth of other businesses that depend on cement as a primary product. Minister Chombo pointed out that President Mnangagwa's promotion of rural industrialization is demonstrated by the plant's establishment in Hurungwe's rural area. Cde Super Monga Madiro, a legislator from Magunje, expressed his excitement at the news, saying it will improve the constituency's situation. It was anticipated that the project will boost domestic cement production and decrease imports of the high-demand product. The project, when completed, is expected to reduce foreign exchange expenditure caused by the import of clinker and white ash while meeting the demand for infrastructure construction, industrial smelting, and agricultural development. This was stated by Wang Fayin, president of West International West Holding, during the signing ceremony. A new dry-process clinker cement production line with an annual capacity of 2.7 million tonnes would be made possible by the investment. It would also include a cement grinding station with an annual capacity of 900 000 tonnes and a 100 MW power generation unit. Along with increasing US dollar tax revenue and saving Zimbabwe a significant amount of foreign cash from cement imports, the project will also generate employment for roughly 5,000 people, he stated. Mr. Thomas Chidzomba, the local agent for Labenmon Investments, stated that the company was dedicated to supporting sustainable investments, exploration, mining, value addition, and effective management of mineral resources in order to support President Mnangagwa's vision. "We made a strategic decision to open a plant in Magunje with the goal of promoting rural industrialization and assisting in the overall growth of the area as well as the realization of Vision 2030," he stated. He also praised President Mnangagwa and the Zimbabwean government for creating an atmosphere that is favorable enough to draw in investors with the slogan "Zimbabwe is Open for Business." By Dion Kajokoto Contact Us Editorial: dion@vaka.co.zw Advertising: advertising@vaka.co.zw : news@vaka.co.zw Whatsapp: +263787980064