Government has intensified efforts to stabilise the cement market following ongoing shortages and spiralling prices, Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu said in a detailed statement yesterday.
Ndlovu said the nation had been experiencing constrained supply.
“The constrained supply has been due to a number of factors converging at the same critical period, including limited domestic production arising from a “widespread shortage of clinker across the cement industry.
The situation worsened as some of the players like Sino Zimbabwe were on scheduled maintenance while others like PPC and Lafarge had plant breakdowns,” he said
The minister said the soaring demand for cement was a direct result of the current construction boom under the Second Republic.
“The demand for cement [has] nearly trebl[ed] from the 2017 levels, signaling strong growth reflecting a growing economy.
This growth, had already attracted huge investments into the sector, with one new entrant starting operations end of 2024 and 2 new players coming into operation during the course of 2025, both in Hwange,” he added
Despite these developments, Ndlovu said supply still fell short.
“Our current production is still not adequate to meet our current and growing demand for cement causing mismatch between demand and supply.
Regional pressures had worsened the gap, with Zambia which contributes nearly 90% of our imports now experiencing its own uptick in demand, resulting in Zimbabwean trucks being delayed at the loading point,” Minister Ndlovu said
The minister condemned profiteering in the market, saying, “It is disturbing to note the speculative and criminal nature by some individuals and businesses who are taking advantage of this temporary setback to fleece our people, charging exorbitant and ridiculous prices. This behaviour should not be tolerated.”
To curb shortages and stabilise prices, Ndlovu said that Ministry is allowing importation of cement through increased issuance of import licenses.
“A total of 145 000 MT of import licences has been issued from early October to date and that “the product has started arriving.
ZIMRA was conducting a loss control program of following up on cement importers who did not pay surtax, resulting in slow clearance at Chirundu,” he noted
Ndlovu said supply was beginning to recover.
“Sino Zimbabwe has since resumed production while PPC’s Bulawayo plant, which had broken down, has since been repaired and now they are in production,” Minister Ndlovu said
Looking to the medium term, Ndlovu said Zimbabwe’s cement strategy would deliver a production surplus before the end of 2026.
“These investments will almost double our current supply and create opportunities to explore the regional markets,” he said.
