Manhize Shutdown Jolts Zimbabwe’s Industrial Ambitions

Dinson Iron and Steel’s Manhize plant has shut down for 60 days due to equipment breakdown (image source)

A 60-day shutdown at Dinson Iron and Steel’s Manhize plant has cast doubt over Zimbabwe’s push to industrialise, leaving more than 2,000 workers idle and reigniting concerns about the resilience of large-scale foreign-led projects, company and union sources said this week.

Dinson announced the stoppage — dated 11 September to 11 November — citing a major breakdown in the sintering unit and the need to complete commissioning of remaining equipment. Management described the closure as temporary and repair-focused, while workers report anxiety over unpaid leave and travel arrangements made during the downtime.

The plant had been billed as Africa’s largest integrated iron project when commissioned three years ago, but the unplanned halt exposes operational fragility that risks undermining investor confidence and local employment expectations. Company spokesperson Joseph Shoko told media the pause was precautionary and necessary to avoid further production losses. He emphasised the site’s long-term resource base and plans to scale from a single blast furnace to six in future phases. Workers’ committee chair Tichaona Masvanhise confirmed the shutdown and said staff were either taking accrued leave or facing forced unpaid leave in October if leave balances run out.

Analysts said the timing is damaging for Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 industrialisation narrative. Economic commentator Dr. Loveness Chibanda noted that large capital projects require sustained commissioning support, spare-parts supply chains, and strong local content policies to absorb shocks. Without these, technical faults can cascade into protracted outages and local disaffection.

Eyewitness and local reporting indicate hundreds of expatriate workers moved offsite during the pause, fuelling rumours of a deeper crisis. Dinson countered this by saying those departures were routine home visits and that key technical teams remain engaged on repairs.

Zimbabwe has sought to rekindle heavy industry to reduce raw-ore exports and add value domestically, but past collapses — such as the late-1990s Hartley platinum shock — show infrastructure, governance and funding gaps can quickly scuttle ambitions. The Manhize project’s scale made it politically symbolic; its stumble therefore carries outsized reputational risk for both the government and the Chinese investors involved.

In the short term, local suppliers and transport operators face lost revenue. Medium-term risks include stalled downstream steel product markets and hesitancy from financiers backing related industrial projects. Mining and industry ministry officials have been briefed and are monitoring repairs, according to local coverage.

Dinson says full operations will resume in November after repairs and final commissioning. Inspectors from regulators and independent engineers will be watched closely by unions and government to verify readiness. Observers will look for transparent technical reports and credible timelines to restore confidence.