Billion Dollar Cement Project Launched in Hurungwe

Oscar J Jeke

Zim Now Reporter

Zimbabwe’s cement industry is set for a major boost, with a US$1 billion investment by West International Holdings Zimbabwe to establish a large-scale cement plant in Hurungwe, Mashonaland West.

The project, announced by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, will produce 1.2 million tonnes of clinker and 1.4 million tonnes of cement annually, creating over 2,000 jobs for communities in Hurungwe, Karoi, Magunje, Tengwe, and surrounding areas once fully operational. More than 100 workers are already employed at the site.

“This is another mega project under rural industrialisation. Cement will be cheaper and available in abundance to satisfy demand from the construction sector,” the ministry said.

The Hurungwe development comes as JainQiang Cement Pvt Ltd nears completion of its new plant in Hwange, which is already 95% complete. The facility, which broke ground in April, will have a production capacity of 50,000 tonnes per month (about 600,000 tonnes annually) once commissioned.

Zimbabwe’s annual cement demand is estimated at 1.4 million tonnes, driven by housing construction, government infrastructure projects, and regional exports. However, long-standing supply challenges have seen existing producers, PPC Zimbabwe, Lafarge (now Khaya Cement), and Sino-Zimbabwe Cement, struggle to keep pace, hampered by plant breakdowns, foreign currency shortages, and limited capacity.

Cement shortages in 2023 and 2024 saw retail prices soar to over US$20 per 50kg bag, sparking public frustration and delaying construction projects. Authorities say new investments will help stabilise supply, lower costs, and reduce reliance on imports from South Africa and Zambia.

Beyond meeting domestic demand, the new Hwange and Hurungwe projects are expected to position Zimbabwe as a regional exporter, tapping into southern Africa’s infrastructure boom.