Africa's richest man, Nigeria's Aliko Dangote,
said on Monday he plans to open a $400 million cement plant in
Zimbabwe, a major boost for the southern African country that is
desperate for foreign investment.
The billionaire, whose
business empire includes Dangote Cement, also said that he aimed to
invest in coal mining and power generation in the country.
"We've already decided to invest into Zimbabwe, that's why we are here.
Any country where you see us visiting it means, yes, we've decided to
invest," Dangote told journalists in Harare.
He held meetings with Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Monday.
The plant will produce 1.5 million tonnes of cement a year and if
government permission is given, construction will begin in the first
quarter of 2016, he said.
The government has halved its
economic growth target for this year to 1.5 per cent, blaming a
scorching drought that has hit the key agriculture sector.
Zimbabwe has been struggling for five years to recover from a
catastrophic decade of contraction that was marked by billion per cent
hyperinflation and widespread food shortages. Some analysts say the
economy could tip back into recession this year due to the slump in
metals prices and a drought.
Zimplats, the country's biggest
platinum producer, announced an annual loss on Monday, for only the
second time in its history.
Zimbabwe has lagged behind
neighbours like Mozambique and Zambia in attracting foreign investment
but said last month it had approved $971 million in foreign investments
in the first half of the year versus $555 million a year ago.
Investors often point to Zimbabwe's black economic empowerment law,
which requires foreign-owned firms to sell majority shares, as an
obstacle to investment. On Sunday, a cabinet minister said the law would
be relaxed.
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