Govt Moves to Ease Cement Shortages

The government has stepped in to stabilise the cement market, granting private players permission to import the product as local shortages continue to push prices beyond the reach of many Zimbabweans.

Over the past weeks, the price of a 50kg bag of cement has shot up from about US$10 to as high as US$16 — with reports of some suppliers charging up to US$20 as the scarcity worsened.

In a statement, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce said the supply constraints were driven by a combination of factors, including a widespread shortage of clinker across the industry and operational disruptions at major producers. Sino Zimbabwe was undergoing scheduled maintenance, while PPC and Lafarge suffered plant breakdowns, further tightening supply.

The ministry also flagged delays at Zambian loading points, where increased demand north of the border — accounting for almost 90% of Zimbabwe’s cement imports — has slowed down deliveries to local transporters.

Government described the current pricing by some traders as “speculative and criminal,” accusing them of exploiting the temporary disruption to fleece consumers.
“This behaviour should not be tolerated and we appeal to such individuals to uphold good business ethics,” the ministry said.

To contain the crisis, authorities have increased the issuance of cement import licences, with 145,000 metric tonnes approved between October and now. Government has also temporarily waived the certificate of conformity requirement under the consignment-based conformity assessment programme, a move expected to speed up inflows until December 20.

The ministry says the measures are already beginning to bear fruit, with new consignments arriving in the country. However, it noted that clearance of trucks at Chirundu remains slow as ZIMRA tightens its loss control initiative targeting importers who skipped surtax payments.

There is some relief on the horizon: Sino Zimbabwe has resumed production, while PPC says repairs to its Bulawayo plant have been completed, allowing output to restart.

The ministry also urged consumers not to panic-buy or hoard cement, warning that such behaviour could worsen the situation.

Officials say the spike in demand is partly a by-product of a nationwide construction boom in both public and private sectors. The sector continues to attract fresh investment, with one new entrant having come online late last year and two additional players expected to begin operations in Hwange during 2025.

Government maintains that the import window, increased local output and ongoing plant recoveries should help stabilise supply and ease prices in the coming weeks.