Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe has something most of its neighbours do not: a genuine engineering heritage. Bulawayo in particular still has foundries, machine shops and fabricators with real capability, and Zimbabwean buyers often know exactly what they want and why. EMM ships through Durban and Beira, with road haulage via Beitbridge, Forbes or Chirundu, and we work with customers who are frequently rebuilding or re-equipping plant that has been running for decades.

What is moving

Mining is the strongest sector - platinum on the Great Dyke, gold across the Midlands, chrome, and the lithium operations at Bikita and Arcadia that have grown quickly. That means crushing and milling, flotation and gravity separation, slurry pumps, dewatering, compressors, generators and assay laboratory equipment. Tobacco remains a major earner and takes curing, grading, threshing and baling plant. Food processing covers maize milling, oil expelling, stockfeed, beverage bottling and bakery equipment. Irrigation is substantial on the sugar estates at Chiredzi and Triangle and on the horticulture farms. Construction and brick making take block machines, batching plants and concrete equipment.

Documentation and payment

Zimbabwe operates the Consignment Based Conformity Assessment programme, so imports in scope are inspected and certificated in the country of supply before shipment - we book the CBCA assessment in China and send the certificate with the documents, because without it the consignment attracts penalties at the border. The currency position is multi-currency with the US dollar widely used for trade, and we quote in US dollars. Expect 220 V single phase and 380 V three phase, both at 50 Hz, with load shedding common enough that standby generation is worth including.

If you are replacing a machine that is already installed, send us a photograph of the nameplate - matching the existing footprint, shaft and drive saves far more than a slightly cheaper new unit.