By Dickson Bandera
Nigerian billionaire and Africa’s richest man, Mr Aliko Dangote, has arrived in Zimbabwe for high-level discussions aimed at exploring investment opportunities in key sectors of the economy. His visit marks his third time coming to Zimbabwe, following his initial trip in 2015 and 2018 when he expressed interest in venturing into cement production, coal mining, and energy generation projects.
Dangote, whose business empire spans across Africa through the Dangote Group, is scheduled to meet President Emmerson Mnangagwa and senior government officials in Harare this Wednesday. The discussions are expected to centre on Zimbabwe’s infrastructure, mining, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors — all of which are priority areas under the government’s “Zimbabwe is Open for Business” initiative.
His visit comes at a time when the Second Republic is intensifying efforts to attract both domestic and foreign investment to stimulate industrial growth and create employment opportunities. The government’s drive for economic revival has been underscored by reforms designed to improve the ease of doing business and restore investor confidence.
Who is Aliko Dangote?
Born on April 10, 1957, in Kano, Nigeria, Aliko Dangote is the founder and chairman of the Dangote Group, one of the largest conglomerates in Africa with interests in cement, sugar, salt, fertiliser, oil and gas, and logistics. Through relentless ambition and strategic expansion, he has built a business empire that employs over 30,000 people across the continent.
His flagship company, Dangote Cement, is Africa’s largest cement producer, operating in more than 10 countries. Dangote has also invested heavily in fertiliser production and is currently behind Africa’s largest oil refinery in Lagos, Nigeria — a project valued at over US$19 billion aimed at transforming Africa’s energy landscape.
Over the years, Dangote has become a symbol of African entrepreneurship and industrialisation, often emphasising the need for Africa to add value to its raw materials and reduce dependence on imports. His business philosophy aligns closely with Zimbabwe’s economic vision of beneficiation and industrial growth.
During his first visit to Zimbabwe a decade ago, Dangote held meetings with then-President Robert Mugabe and government officials, where he expressed interest in setting up cement and power generation plants.
While those projects did not materialize then, his renewed engagement suggests a revived interest, possibly under more favourable economic reforms introduced by the Mnangagwa administration.
