Blessing Nduku

More than 300 companies could eventually set up operations at the proposed 800-hectare Special Economic Zone at Manhize as Dinson Iron and Steel Company (DISCO) expands the area into a major industrial and manufacturing centre in the Midlands.

The proposed industrial park is expected to attract companies that will process steel into finished and semi-finished products, creating a broader manufacturing chain around DISCO’s growing steel production operations.

DISCO Chief Operations Officer Wilfred Motsi said the company is targeting manufacturers of products such as pipes, roofing materials, nails and mining equipment.

“The industrial park is intended to attract manufacturers producing steel products such as pipes, roofing materials, nails and mining equipment,” Motsi said.

The development is expected to open opportunities for local businesses involved in engineering, metal fabrication, construction, transport and other services required by the steel industry.

DISCO is currently producing about 600,000 tonnes of carbon steel, with production expected to rise to nearly 2 million tonnes in the coming years as the company continues to expand its operations.

The company is also working towards producing mining consumables, including mill balls used in mineral processing, a development that could help reduce Zimbabwe’s reliance on imported mining equipment and materials.

The Manhize operation is largely supported by locally sourced inputs, with DISCO indicating that about 90 percent of its raw materials are obtained within Zimbabwe.

The steel complex is also supported by a 50-megawatt thermal power station, providing electricity for its operations and contributing to the development of an integrated industrial base at Manhize.

The proposed Special Economic Zone is therefore expected to go beyond steel production by creating space for businesses that can use DISCO’s products as raw materials and supply goods and services to the expanding industrial complex.

The development is seen as part of the broader transformation of Manhize from a steel-producing centre into an integrated manufacturing hub, with the potential to attract investment, stimulate downstream industries and create employment opportunities in the Midlands.

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DISCO says its long-term vision is to establish a wider industrial ecosystem at Manhize, where steel production is linked to manufacturing and other supporting industries.