Dangote to Invest $1 Billion in Zimbabwe’s Industrial and Energy Infrastructure

Africa’s wealthiest businessman, Aliko Dangote, has announced a plan to channel as much as $1 billion into Zimbabwe’s economy, focusing on large-scale ventures in cement production, power generation, and fuel transport infrastructure.

The move represents one of the most significant private-sector commitments Zimbabwe has attracted in recent years, reinforcing growing confidence in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s economic reform policies and renewed push to attract foreign direct investment.

Reports surfaced last month that Dangote was preparing for a major expansion in Zimbabwe, anchored around an integrated industrial hub combining cement manufacturing, coal mining, and energy generation. His recent visit to Harare signals that preparations for these projects are now gaining momentum.

The Dangote Group’s renewed engagement is particularly notable, given that earlier efforts to establish similar ventures in 2015 and 2018 were halted due to policy and regulatory uncertainties under the previous administration. With Mnangagwa’s government now prioritizing transparency and investor protection, the landscape has shifted considerably in favor of large-scale industrial investments.

Dangote extends continental dominance, seals $1 billion investment push in Zimbabwe

Sources close to the development describe the initiative as a potential “game changer” capable of transforming Zimbabwe’s industrial base, stimulating job creation, and positioning the nation as a key manufacturing and investment hub in southern Africa.

Speaking after a high-level meeting with President Mnangagwa in Harare, Dangote expressed optimism about the country’s direction. “The progress we have seen under this administration gives us the assurance that Zimbabwe is ready for serious business. The economy is on the right path, and this is the right time for us to invest,” he remarked.

This renewed commitment revives a long-standing vision first announced in 2015, when Dangote Cement proposed building a $400 million plant with an annual capacity of 1.5 million tons. That project never materialized under the late Robert Mugabe’s government, which was often criticized for its restrictive stance toward foreign investors.

Under the current administration, however, Zimbabwe has adopted more open and investor-driven policies, creating the conditions needed for Dangote’s projects to finally move forward. If implemented as planned, the new investment could become one of the defining private-sector developments in Zimbabwe’s post-crisis recovery, strengthening its regional economic influence.

According to Dangote, the upcoming partnership with the Zimbabwean government will encompass multiple industrial pillars, including cement, energy, and fuel logistics. “It’s a broad, long-term investment with a total value that could exceed a billion dollars, especially when the fuel pipeline component is included,” he confirmed.

He commended President Mnangagwa’s leadership, noting that “transparency and consistency have made all the difference,” and added, “His Excellency has proven that Zimbabwe is open for business and ready for growth.”

In a statement following the meeting, President Mnangagwa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the Dangote Group’s entry into Zimbabwe, describing the collaboration as a strategic fit for the nation’s Vision 2030 development agenda.

Dr. Paul Tunguwara, the President’s Special Advisor on Investments, characterized the visit as “a landmark moment,” emphasizing that the engagement underscores Zimbabwe’s ongoing transformation into a credible and investor-friendly destination for global capital.

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