THE government has issued licences for the importation of 145 000 metric tonnes of cement, as it moves to alleviate shortage amid increased demand.
It will also waive the requirement for a certificate of conformity issued under the consignment-based conformity assessment for the period up to December 20, the Industry and Commerce minister said in a statement.
The measures come amid a shortage of cement, which has seen unscrupulous businesses selling a 50kg bag of cement for US$20.
Before the shortage, the price of cement ranged between US$6 and US$12.
The ministry attributed the shortage to limited domestic production due to widespread shortage of clinker in the industry.
It said players like Sino Zimbabwe were on scheduled maintenance, while PPC and Lafarge had plant breakdowns.
The ministry said the issuance of import licences “is starting to bear fruit and we are advised by several players who are importing that the product has started arriving,” the ministry said.
“We wish to advise also that Zimra [Zimbabwe Revenue Authority] is carrying out a loss control programme of following up on cement importers who did not pay surtax and hence the clearance of trucks at Chirundu is still quite slow.”
- War over super car stuck in river
- Zimra seizes CCC campaign vehicle
- Crime tech: Technology can eradicate corruption
- Firearms smuggling suspect weeps in court
Keep Reading
It said Sino Zimbabwe had resumed production and players in the industry have started collecting the product.
“PPC Zimbabwe also indicated that their Bulawayo plant, which had broken down, has since been repaired and now they are in production,” the ministry said.
It urged consumers to avoid hoarding the product.
It said the increased demand had also been triggered by a construction boom in both private and public sectors that witnessed a surge in demand for cement.
“This has similarly attracted huge investments to the sector, with one an entrant starting operations at the end of 2024 and two new players coming into operation during the course
of 2025, both in Hwange,” the ministry said.
