Dinson Iron and Steel can be SADC’s flagship project, Xu

Dinson Iron and Steel Company chairman, Benson Xu, painted a rosy picture of the company’s progress and its role in Zimbabwe’s industrialisation drive during a tour of the plant by SADC Industrialisation Week delegates on Friday.

The tour was part of a six-day SADC Industrialisation Week, which culminated in factory tours to approximately 12 of the country’s leading manufacturing companies of which Dinson was one of them.

Other firms that were also toured include Delta, Davipel, Khaya Cement, Dairibord, National Foods, Olivine, Irvines, Kefalos, Dendairy and President Mnangagwa’s Precabe Farm.

Speaking ahead of the tour, Xu emphasised the national scope of the project, stating; “It is a national project which we are developing in this place. So, we get all the raw material from other places and put it into the manufacturing process here and add value to have our final product.”

The company’s operations span across provinces, with raw materials sourced from Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West and Masvingo, while the plant itself is located in the Midlands.

Xu outlined the project’s phases, highlighting the recent commissioning of the blast furnaces and the upcoming launch of continuous casting equipment.

“Last week we just started equipment testing and I believe in a week or two, we are going to officially start the commission and the production of the steel billets,” he said.

Xu expressed confidence in Dinson’s role as a catalyst for Zimbabwe’s industrialisation.

“We believe this is a hub for the industrialisation in Zimbabwe and also that we are able to deliver the vision, which President (Mnangagwa) encouraged us to implement,” he affirmed.

The company aims to position Zimbabwe as a regional steel production hub, serving the demands of SADC member countries.

Acknowledging the Government’s support, Xu said: “We are very fortunate that this project has the support of the Government to build the nation together, to build the hub for industrialisation together.”

He further emphasised the potential for collaboration within the SADC region, suggesting that the bloc’s diverse strengths could be harnessed to drive mutual growth.

Xu concluded by expressing gratitude to the SADC delegates for visiting the plant and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to contributing to the region’s industrialisation roadmap.

Also speaking ahead of the tour, Willard Manungo, Deputy Chief Secretary for Policy Analysis, Coordination and Development Planning in the Office of the President and Cabinet, thanked the Dinson Group for championing the component of the Industrialisation agenda for SADC.

“I would like to say to all the colleagues from our SADC region that we are here as Zimbabwe to share with you, to be encouraged by you, and to also learn from you, in terms of how we can perfect our own obligations in terms of moving forward with the SADC agenda, ” said Deputy Chief Secretary Manungo.

Delegates that toured the steel plant were from Botswana, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa and Zimbabwe.-ebusinessweekly