Harare Government has immediately lifted all restrictions on cement imports in a drastic move to tackle acute shortages and a dramatic 40% price surge that has crippled the construction industry.
The announcement was made in Parliament on Tuesday by the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Dr. Paul Mavima, who cited an urgent need to stabilize the market and protect ongoing construction projects across the country.
The price of a 50kg bag of cement has skyrocketed by approximately 40% over the past two months, jumping from around US$12 to US$17. This sharp increase has been attributed to a potent mix of robust domestic demand and a severe constraint in supply, after many formal dealers exhausted their import quotas.
“Local industry has been unable to meet demand, leading to unsustainable price hikes that are affecting everyone from individual home builders to large-scale infrastructure projects,” Dr. Mavima told legislators.
The minister detailed the root causes of the local supply gap, pointing to persistent operational challenges. These include acute shortages of clinker a key raw material for cement production frequent plant breakdowns, and ongoing power supply issues. Furthermore, imported cement that could have alleviated the shortage has been held up at border posts due to the now-scrapped regulatory restrictions.
The cement crisis has sent ripples through Zimbabwe’s economy, significantly driving up construction costs and causing delays in major public and private projects. This comes at a time when the nation’s cement consumption is at a high of 1.6 to 1.8 million tonnes per year, fueled by government-led infrastructure works and a boom in residential construction.
While the immediate solution has been found in opening the borders to imports, the government anticipates a more permanent relief to the supply constraints early next year. This is when the new Huaxin Cement manufacturing plant in Chegutu is expected to become operational.
The US$150 million plant is projected to add a substantial 800,000 tonnes of cement to the national output per annum, which should significantly reduce the country’s reliance on imports in the medium to long term.