HARARE: Reuters are reporting that Zimbabwe’s cement producers want the government to impose tariffs on imports, including from Nigeria’s Dangote Cement. The producers say that this would prevent the collapse of the local industry and save jobs. The three cement manufacturers in the country, Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe, Pretoria Portland Cement Zimbabwe and Chinese-owned Sino Cement, have a combined installed capacity of 1.85 million t.
The Cement and Concrete Institute of Zimbabwe (CCIZ) announced that cement from Dangote’s unit in Zambia, as well as imports from South Africa, Mozambique and Botswana were hurting the local industry. CCIZ also said only local producers should be allowed to import cement after getting approval from the government.
Zimbabwe’s cement market is growing at an annual rate of 2 – 3% and manufacturers are expected to produce 1.17 million t this year. The three manufacturers had invested US$185 million to upgrade plants and increase production in the last five years, CCIZ said.
