Zimbabwe: Lafarge and PPC are reported to be ‘scrambling’ to contain cement shortages in Zimbabwe. Capacity is down owing to maintenance and operational issues and there have been problems importing some raw materials due to a lack of foreign currency. Shortages of cement and related products have hit the country in the past week, with wholesalers, supermarkets and other retailers running out of stock.
PPC Zimbabwe’s managing director, Kelibone Masiyane, said that the ‘current cement shortage is temporary’ and Lafarge has authorisation to import up to 5000t. Some of this had reportedly come in from Mozambique over the Forbes border crossing.