A Rutendo HIGH School Alumni At The Helm Of A Mega National Steel Project
By Advent Shoko
HARARE – When Munashe Chihambakwe walked back into Zimbabwe after six years in China, he didn’t just return with a degree, he brought back the skills to help power a new industrial era. Today he is the Local Enterprise Development Projects Manager at the sprawling Dinson Iron and Steel Company (Disco) in Manhize, a project reshaping Zimbabwe’s industrial landscape brick by brick.
Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhou Ding highlighted Munashe’s journey as exactly the story both nations want to champion:
“After six years of study in 🇨🇳 China, this young man came back home and joined DISCO. Now serving as a Local Enterprise Development Projects Manager, he applies his expertise and fluent Chinese to drive meaningful progress. Brick by brick, dedicated individuals like him are building a stronger, more prosperous Zimbabwe.”
China–Zimbabwe Industrial Ties Driving Growth
Disco, a steel giant under China’s Tsingshan Group, is one of Zimbabwe’s biggest industrial investments, marking a comeback for heavy industry in Africa’s interior. The US$1.5 billion Manhize Steel Plant now produces pig iron, steel billets, hot wire rods and mining mill balls, feeding local construction, infrastructure and mining sectors and cutting costly steel imports.
In the first half of 2025 alone, the plant posted nearly US$100 million in steel sales, an achievement local officials say underscores its economic importance.
With phased expansion plans targeting up to five million tonnes of steel annually, the project not only fuels Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 industrial goals, but also opens doors for local enterprise growth, job creation and value chain development.
Local Enterprise Development and Skills Transfer
At Disco, Local Enterprise Development (LED) initiatives are more than slogans. They’re creating real opportunities for Zimbabwean companies to participate in the value chain, reduce import dependency, and produce goods once sourced abroad.
Munashe’s role involves linking local suppliers and youth talent with Chinese technical expertise, ensuring senior engineers can hand over skills to Zimbabwean counterparts. Disco’s public relations team says this approach not only builds capacity but also strengthens community ties and industry confidence.
Beyond Steel: China’s Broader Footprint
Zimbabwe’s industrial revival is part of a bigger China–Africa picture. Chinese firms across mining, manufacturing and infrastructure are contributing to community projects, vocational training, and local economic growth, aligning with Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
From lithium processing plants at Arcadia entering production in early 2026, boosting battery mineral value chains, to Chinese partners drilling water wells and building roads in rural districts, the collaboration is broad and multifaceted.
Brain Gain Beats Brain Drain
Munashe’s return contrasts sharply with Zimbabwe’s persistent challenge of brain drain. His story sends a powerful message to young Zimbabweans: study abroad, come back home, build your community and country.
Experts argue companies operating in Zimbabwe, especially major foreign investors, should prioritise local competence and merit-based employment to ensure skills are transferred, youth are empowered, and economic benefits are widely shared. Says an industry analyst:
“This is the model Zimbabwe needs. Foreign investment paired with strong local participation is how we turn projects into prosperity.”
As Disco and similar ventures grow, the real test will be whether the next generation of Zimbabwean engineers, managers and business owners can continue turning foreign partnership into homegrown success.
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