After decades of false starts, Zimbabwe’s steel dreams are being reignited — but the real test lies in whether this time the country can build a value-driven, people-centred industry rather than repeat the mistakes of the past.
The government’s 2022 decision to hand over Ziscosteel to Kuvimba Mining House rekindled hopes for a revival of what was once the industrial heart of the nation. In its heyday, Zisco employed over 5,500 workers, generated foreign currency, and supported thousands of downstream jobs. Its collapse in 2008, after years of mismanagement and underinvestment, symbolised the broader unravelling of Zimbabwe’s manufacturing base.
Previous efforts to resuscitate the steelmaker — from the US$750 million Essar Africa deal in 2011 to the R&F Properties and ZimCoke ventures — all collapsed amid disputes, corruption and governance concerns. Government’s assumption of Zisco’s US$500 million debt in 2018 only deepened public frustration as the plant remained idle.
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Now, two decades and several broken promises later, steel is once again being sold as the anchor of Vision 2030, with the Dinson Manhize Steel Project positioned as the flagship. Yet critics warn that without a clear value chain strategy, transparency, and community participation, Zimbabwe risks turning Manhize into another cautionary tale — like the Marange diamond fields, where billions were lost and locals were left behind.
Environmental activist Noxon Nyikadzino told Zim Now that Zimbabwe needs a transparent ownership model to ensure local benefits. “We have walked this road before. A national refining entity, community share ownership and a focus on finished products will make steel truly transformative,” he said.
Social activist Pride Mkono added that the revival must move beyond raw production: “The real opportunity is in downstream industries — steel goods, tools, and equipment for local and regional markets. That’s where jobs and wealth are created.”
The same sentiments echoed in Senate debates this week, where lawmakers called for a National Steel Value Chain Strategy. Senator Tambudzani Mohadi described steel as “the spine of modern infrastructure,” while Senator Sisasenkosi Ndebele urged government to “avoid another Marange — Chivhu’s people must not be spectators.”
Zisco’s revival is more than a return to furnaces; it is a test of whether Zimbabwe can rebuild its industrial backbone on accountability and inclusion. The steel that once shaped Redcliff’s skyline could again define the nation’s future — if, this time, the lessons of Zisco’s fall are finally heeded.
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