• Dangote to invest $1B in Zimbabwe cement, energy, and infrastructure sectors
• Return follows 2015 plans stalled by bureaucracy under former President Mugabe
• Projects include cement plant, power station, oil pipeline, and logistics hubs

Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote on Wednesday, November 12, announced a plan to invest 1 billion dollars in Zimbabwe, targeting the cement, power and infrastructure sectors. The announcement followed a meeting with President Emmerson Mnangagwa, where the Dangote Group and the government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Return After 2015 Setback

The move signals Dangote’s return to Zimbabwe nearly a decade after his first visit in 2015 under former President Robert Mugabe. At the time, the Dangote Group had proposed a 400 million dollar cement plant with an annual production capacity of 1.5 million tonnes, along with projects in the energy and fertilizer sectors. These plans did not go ahead because of disputes with the government related to guarantees, bureaucracy and slow administrative procedures.

I met Nigerian businessman Mr Aliko Dangote, who is in Zimbabwe to explore investment opportunities.

Zimbabwe and the Dangote Group have signed a global agreement focusing on energy, cement, fertiliser, and infrastructure development, advancing our Vision 2030 agenda.#Zimbabwe… pic.twitter.com/kPTZoDpL95

— President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) November 12, 2025

Dangote said he regained confidence in Zimbabwe’s investment environment due to economic reforms and increased stability under President Mnangagwa. President Mnangagwa has “turned the economy around,” he told reporters after the meeting. “That really gave us the confidence that this is the right time for us to come and invest.”

Key Project Components

The new investment covers several areas. In the cement sector, the company plans to build a factory capable of producing 1.5 million tonnes a year. The facility is intended to reduce Zimbabwe’s dependence on imports and support national infrastructure development.

In the energy sector, the group plans to build a coal-fired thermal power station to increase electricity generation and ensure a reliable supply for industrial operations. At the same time, Dangote intends to develop a cross-border oil pipeline more than 2,200 kilometers long, connecting the Walvis Bay oil and gas basin in Namibia to Bulawayo in Zimbabwe through Botswana. The project aims to lower fuel costs and reduce the region’s reliance on imports from Europe and Asia.

The group also plans to build additional logistics infrastructure, including raw material depots and regional distribution centers, to support both industrial and energy operations. These facilities are designed to streamline supply chains, lower operating costs and strengthen Zimbabwe’s integration into regional markets for energy and construction materials.

If completed, the projects are expected to make a significant contribution to Zimbabwe’s industrial capacity and energy supply, support job creation and reduce import spending, provided the government maintains a stable operating climate.

Olivier de Souza