It is common knowledge that in February 2024, Hilmax Engineering went into corporate rescue. What may not be known by some is that on 31 July 2025, Hilmax came out of corporate rescue. Once a respected name in the industry, being put under corporate rescue left Hilmax shaken, tested, and its spirit subdued. It was a business burdened with uncertainty and lacking in credibility.
Written by: Mr J. P Mkushi
There are times in the life of almost every organisation when survival demands courage, honesty and unity. The former directors of Hilmax showed these traits by volunteering for the company to go into corporate rescue. This courageous decision could be the reason why Hilmax is still alive and well today.
While to many, Corporate Rescue seemed to be the end of Hilmax’s story, it was only the beginning. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes of its own destruction, Hilmax has begun its own journey of renewal and transformation. On 31 July 2025, Hilmax was bought by new shareholders under the supervision of the Corporate Rescue Practitioner and the authority of the Master of the High Court of Zimbabwe. The new shareholders took over the settlement of the Hilmax creditors and the dues to employees. They also undertook to provide the necessary working capital to bring the company back to an operational footing. For Hilmax, this was the birth of the journey of renewal and transformation. From mere survival, the focus shifted to revitalisation and the beginning of sustainable growth.
The new shareholders saw in Hilmax a company with enduring potential not only in its assets and operations but in the relationships it had cultivated over the years. It’s those relationships Hilmax wishes to revive and build on to stronger and higher levels than before. We are greatly encouraged by the fact that most of Hilmax’s long-standing partners remembered the value Hilmax had delivered in the past and that our outreach to re-establish business relationships with them has been met with trust and utmost professionalism. At the same time, new connections are being forged as we demonstrate renewed stability, purpose and a commitment to excellence. It is clear to us that Hilmax’s credibility has not been lost. It is ready to be built and expanded.
As the new shareholders, our focus and priority is very clear. This is to deal with every stakeholder, including employees, customers, suppliers and other business partners with honesty, integrity, transparency and consistency. These values will guide us on every step of the business rebuilding process and will shape the culture we are determined to entrench.
Rebuilding Hilmax will be an ongoing process. We are actively strengthening the governance and internal systems to ensure that accountability is embedded at every level of the organisation and that ethical practices are reinforced across the organisation. We would like to create a sustainable culture where trust and responsibility guide every decision we make.
One of our most critical challenges has been building trust and alignment across our team. Our employees are the heart of the whole organisation. Ensuring that they understand and embrace the company’s new direction has required open communication, consistent leadership and a clear demonstration of our own values in action. We are convinced that over time, as they see the organisation operating with integrity and purpose, confidence and commitment will be growing. While this has tested our rate of progress, we see it as part of renewal. Trust is not demanded; it is earned. Earning trust requires patience, fairness and consistent demonstration that integrity is not a slogan but a standard. Over time, as employees experience leadership that embodies these principles, confidence grows, and loyalties shift towards the Hilmax we are all building together.
Despite internal challenges, we are making significant strides. Our teams are reconnecting with clients, restoring confidence in our services and steadily reinforcing the Hilmax reputation for reliability and professionalism. Each success, large or small, strengthens the foundation on which we continue to build.
We are deeply grateful to the following:
- Our staff who have chosen to embrace our new direction
- Our clients who continue to trust us
- Our service providers and regulators who engage with us constructively
- Our suppliers who have warmly welcomed us back after the rescue status was lifted.
All these people’s collaboration is vital to our journey of transformation. Our recovery is powered by the people who believe, the teams who embraced change and are learning new systems and redefining what excellence means within the walls of Hilmax.
Our vision of the new Hilmax is to build an organisation that goes beyond just supplying goods and services. We would like to see a Hilmax that is at the forefront of the development of new and innovative industrial technologies, in tandem with worldwide technological developments. We want to offer solutions and development opportunities to Zimbabwe’s economy. Hilmax will deepen its presence in mining and industrial projects, introduce tech-driven service models and scale operations into regional markets. In short, Hilmax wants to be the partner of choice for engineering excellence in Zimbabwe and beyond.
What began as a rescue process has become a renewal process, rooted not in appearance but in principle. The road ahead remains challenging, but it is one we walk with clarity and conviction. Hilmax is still a work in progress, but it is also a work of purpose – proof that with transparency, honesty and resolve, even a turbulent past can lead to a stronger, more principled future.
