Dangote Commits $1 Billion to Cement, Power Projects in Zimbabwe

Dangote Group, led by Aliko Dangote, plans to invest up to $1 billion in Zimbabwe to develop an integrated industrial complex spanning cement production, power generation, coal mining, and a fuel pipeline, marking a significant step in Zimbabwe’s industrialization agenda under President Emmerson Mnangagwa ​.

The $1 billion investment signed between Dangote Group and the Zimbabwean government includes constructing a fully integrated cement factory with a limestone quarry and grinding plant. The project aims to reduce Zimbabwe’s dependence on cement imports while boosting local construction output. Additionally, a coal mine and power station will be developed to support industrial operations and contribute to the country’s energy supply ​.

This industrial complex is expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs, targeting youth unemployment and stimulating local supply chains involving small and medium enterprises. The project aligns with Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 to transform into an industrialized upper-middle-income economy and is considered one of the largest private sector investments in recent years within the country ​.

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Dangote previously expressed interest in Zimbabwe’s cement sector around 2015 but deals stalled under former President Robert Mugabe. Renewed confidence under President Mnangagwa’s economic reforms and discussions at the Afreximbank Annual Meetings sparked progress toward this major investment ​.

In a separate major project, Dangote recently signed a $2.4 billion deal to build a large fertilizer plant in Gode, Ethiopia, leveraging natural gas resources to boost agriculture and regional food security. Construction commenced in October 2025