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The CEO of Dinson Iron and Steel Company (DISCO), Mr. Ben Xu (also known as Tanaka Shumba), has called on the Government of Zimbabwe to urgently review and amend the Iron and Steel Industry Act of 1942, which he says no longer reflects the current realities and demands of modern steel manufacturing, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
Speaking during the Chamber of Mines Annual General Meeting in Victoria Falls, Shumba — whose company is spearheading the country’s largest steel project in Manhize — emphasized that Zimbabwe’s industrial future cannot be built on outdated legislation crafted 82 years ago when “the world was still using steam trains.”
“Of particular importance is the review and amendment of the Iron and Steel Industry Act of 1942, which has long been rendered obsolete by the evolving demands of the steel sector,” Shumba said to a round of applause.
DISCO, a subsidiary of Chinese steel giant Tsingshan Group, has already started production of pig iron and steel billets and is now producing reinforced steel bars from 12mm to 32mm, with a total installed capacity of 600,000 tonnes annually. The project is a flagship for Zimbabwe’s industrialisation under Vision 2030 and has received National Project Status.
Shumba’s call comes at a time when Zimbabwe is seeking to reduce steel imports, save foreign currency, and build local capacity in downstream steel industries. He revealed that DISCO had already saved a major local project foreign currency by replacing planned imports with local supply.
“At the Stanbic dinner, I sat next to someone managing the construction of a sports stadium. He said he was going to import steel. I told him, ‘There’s no need. The steel is already here at Manhize from DISCO,’” Shumba shared.
But despite such breakthroughs, Shumba warned that without clear, modern legal backing, Zimbabwe’s steel ambitions could be slowed down.
“The industry has undergone significant changes since 1942 — advancements in technology, shifts in market dynamics, and an increased focus on environmental sustainability. We must comprehensively review the current legal framework to attract investment and support value addition,” he urged.
Steel Built on Resilience and Vision
Tracing DISCO’s journey from vision to reality, Shumba paid tribute to the Government of Zimbabwe for its unwavering support. He noted that the dream began in 2018 when President Emmerson Mnangagwa met with Tsingshan’s chairman in China and committed to making the plant a reality.
“From a three-hour boardroom discussion in 2018, to the groundbreaking in 2022, to pig iron production in June 2024 — DISCO is now fully operational,” said Shumba.
He applauded key ministries and agencies — including the Ministries of Mines, Finance, Industry, and the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency — for facilitating permits, land, energy coordination, and logistics.
“This is what real industrialisation looks like. We are not just making steel; we are rewriting Zimbabwe’s economic story,” Shumba declared.
Local Empowerment and Regional Industrialisation
DISCO has embraced the Local Enterprise Development (LED) programme, forming joint ventures with Zimbabwean businesses to strengthen downstream industries. Shumba said these partnerships will fast-track import substitution and create thousands of jobs.
He further revealed that the company was working on ISO 9001 certification and that the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) had confirmed DISCO steel surpasses international standards.
“We want our steel to be known as the best in the world — not just in compliance, but in quality and vision,” he said.
DISCO is also exploring investments in renewable energy and railway rehabilitation, including the launch of a “Grand Railway Solution” to enhance logistics for both domestic and regional steel trade.
“Steel is the backbone of every economy. It’s time our legal instruments matched our ambition. Let us move together and update the Iron and Steel Act — so that Zimbabwe’s resilience can meet global excellence,” he said.
