Zimbabwe Scheduled To Commission Africa's Biggest Steel Plant
Zimbabwe is scheduled to commission the US$1 billion Mvuma steel plant next year which is set to be Africa’s biggest steel plant.
The project is expected to create employment for over 6 000 people.
The ground-breaking ceremony, undertaken by a local subsidiary of Chinese global steelmaker, Tsingshan Holdings, is expected to be presided over by President Mnangagwa in two months’ time, while the Chinese firm’s top brass will fly in for the occasion.
Early this week, government agencies in the Midlands province, led by the Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Mr Larry Mavima, convened for a consultative meeting at the project site to discuss implementation modalities.
Minister Mavima told the meeting that they wanted a smooth takeoff of the project therefore all stakeholders should play their part. He added:
We don’t want the investor to be denied any service they need when the Government and His Excellency, the President have approved the creation of this project. Let us ensure that it is implemented within the time frame agreed by Government.
He said some huge projects had failed in the past because of “falling into that trap of not following relevant procedures.” Minister Mavima told the stakeholders:
We don’t want anyone who will say, ‘I was not consulted.’ We will remove all landmines that you might encounter because this project will not only help the local community but also the GDP of the province and at national level. This project is being incorporated into our provincial economic plan for the next five years, which is similar to the Government’s National Development Strategy 1 blueprint.
The project is expected to revitalise the country’s infrastructure development drive and will make a town of its own.
A dam over Munyati River, a new bridge, a tarred road, a 40-kilometre rail link to Gweru and an electricity substation are some of the substructures to accompany the plant.
The investors have also clarified that there will be no relocation of villagers.
More: The Sunday Mail
