Zimbabwean Minister of Information Jenfan Muswere has affirmed that Chinese investment exceeding US$1 billion over the past year has significantly bolstered the country’s cement manufacturing capacity marking a key pillar of the nation’s industrialisation efforts. The minister speaking at a post-Cabinet briefing in Harare pointed to renewed manufacturing momentum, noting that cement production has increasingly contributed to the economy as Zimbabwe pursues its Industrial Reconstruction and Growth Plan.
The surge in Chinese-backed investment is helping Zimbabwe shift away from its heavy reliance on imports and mining toward value-adding manufacturing. Earlier this year, reporting from Zimbabwe revealed that Chinese firm Shuntai Investment was constructing a US$70 million cement plant in Chegutu aimed at producing 800,000 tonnes annually, while another Chinese investor, Whi-Zim International, is developing a US$1 billion plant in Magunje with the capacity to employ thousands of local workers.
Seniority in technology and infrastructure means these Chinese investments are more than financial injections, they bring high-end machinery, technical training, and local employment. For example, the Magunje site plans to produce up to 1.8 million tonnes of high-grade cement annually, tapping Zimbabwe’s large limestone reserves and integrating into national industrialisation plans.
The development comes as Zimbabwe’s manufacturing sector, which contributed around 15.3% of GDP in 2024, begins to outpace traditional drivers like agriculture and mining, which is a significant structural shift for the economy. Minister Muswere cited this transformation as evidence that the government’s policy reform agenda is gaining traction through strategic partnerships.
Zimbabwe and China have enjoyed diplomatic and economic ties stretching back decades: Beijing provided the iconic new Parliament building in Mount Hampden with Chinese engineering and financing; Chinese firms are active in mining, infrastructure and energy across the country.
For Zimbabwe, cement is more than a commodity – it is key input for housing, roads, power generation and industry. With Chinese firms creating local production hubs, Zimbabwe stands a chance not only to meet domestic demand but also to export cement regionally, supporting long-term structural transformation.
Nevertheless, observers caution that success hinges on integrating these investments into broader systems: ensuring consistent power supply, skilled local workforces, local content policies, and sustainable environmental practices. Good progress has been made, but embedding capacity locally is essential if Zimbabwe is to move from project-based investment to lasting industrial resilience.
As Chinese investment in Zimbabwe’s cement industry accelerates, the gesture underscores the evolving nature of China–Africa cooperation, from infrastructure-backed diplomacy to deep-engagement in manufacturing, technology transfer and industrialisation. For Zimbabwe, the journey ahead may be arduous, but with strategic partners like China, opportunity knocks.
