The Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) is set to enter into a transformative partnership with Dinson Iron and Steel Company (DISCO), marking a new era of collaboration between Zimbabwe’s burgeoning steel manufacturing sector and the nation’s influential small-scale mining industry.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
Speaking during a recent tour of DISCO’s state-of-the-art facility in Manhize, ZMF President Henrietta Rushwaya emphasised that Zimbabwe’s mining sector, particularly its small-scale players, will no longer rely on imported steel machinery and tools. She announced that ZMF will soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), leading to a formal agreement positioning ZMF as a key consumer and distributor of DISCO’s steel products.
“This is the right time for us to engage with Dinson Iron and Steel Company,” said Rushwaya. “Gone are the days when we imported hammer mills, ball mills, and other steel products from outside Zimbabwe. ZMF represents a significant market for these products, and we are committed to supporting local industry.”
According to Rushwaya, ZMF will mobilise its vast network of small-scale miners and the broader public to consume locally manufactured steel, which she said is “cheaper, stronger, and better” than imported alternatives. The collaboration is expected to spur growth within Zimbabwe’s industrial ecosystem by strengthening backward linkages between mining and manufacturing.
“Our small-scale miners are eager to access affordable, high-quality equipment. This partnership guarantees supply, improves reliability, and most importantly, puts money back into the Zimbabwean economy,” she said.
Rushwaya hailed DISCO as one of Zimbabwe’s most strategic industrial assets, with the capacity to revolutionise the country’s manufacturing and export potential.
“Dinson is a game-changer not just for the mining sector but for Zimbabwe’s re-industrialisation as a whole. For the first time in years, Zimbabwe will not just stop importing steel—we will begin exporting it. That speaks volumes about where our economy is headed,” Rushwaya said.
The move aligns with Zimbabwe’s vision of becoming an upper-middle-income economy by 2030 through local value addition and beneficiation. As the mining sector contributes over 70% to foreign direct investment and 80% to exports, strengthening domestic industrial capacity will further anchor the country’s development strategy.
