Africa News: Dangote Plans Zimbabwe Investment of Up to $1 Billion

Investment Climate & Policy - A decade ago, a similar deal fell apart due to red tape, lack of guarantees, and alleged bribery attempts under President Robert Mugabe's administration [1][2] - The previous administration resisted cost-reflective tariffs and US dollar charges for coal, hindering investment in a 15 million tonnes capacity cement plant [2][3][4] - Aliko Dangote praised President Emmerson Mnangagwa's reforms and economic turnaround, leading to renewed investment in Zimbabwe [5][6] - Zimbabwe's efforts to attract investment have faced hurdles including transparency, corruption, hyperinflation, and currency instability [6][7] Industry & Sector Focus - Dangote previously considered investments in cement and coal in 2015, which did not materialize [1] - Dangote planned to build a 15 million tonnes capacity cement plant, which collapsed previously [4] - The current investment spans coal, cement, and fertilizer sectors [7] Potential Impact & Opportunities - If the deal is finalized, it could signal a return of investors to Zimbabwe [7] - The deal is considered a significant political win for President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who advocates for Zimbabwe's openness to investment [6] - Other investors, including the Chinese, are already active and performing well in these industries [4]