Zimbabwean investment facilitator and journalist Josey Mahachi has been appointed Head of Business Development at Dangote Industries in Harare, marking a key step in the conglomerate’s plans to establish a permanent operational presence in Zimbabwe, according to The Herald.
The appointment follows Dangote Industries’ commitment to invest more than US$1 billion in Zimbabwe, with projects expected to span cement manufacturing, power generation and infrastructure development, including a proposed oil pipeline. The move forms part of Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote’s broader strategy to expand industrial capacity across southern Africa while securing long-term positions in construction materials and energy-linked assets. Zimbabwe has been identified as a priority market due to its infrastructure backlog and growing demand for locally produced cement, particularly as public and private sector construction activity gradually recovers.
Mahachi’s role confirms that Dangote Industries is setting up offices in Harare after the group signed an investment agreement with the Zimbabwean government in November last year, following meetings between Dangote and senior officials, including President Emmerson Mnangagwa, at State House. The agreement is intended to support industrialisation and reduce reliance on imports in key sectors such as cement and fuel distribution, aligning with the government’s strategy to attract foreign direct investment into productive industries.
She played a facilitation role in the investment process, working alongside Bard Santner Inc., with banking executive Senziwani Sikhosana acting as financial adviser to the transaction. Her appointment suggests a shift from deal facilitation to execution, with responsibility for structuring partnerships, navigating regulatory frameworks and coordinating engagement with both public and private stakeholders as projects move towards implementation.
READ – Dangote to Inject up to $1 Billion into Zimbabwe
Dangote’s proposed investment comes at a time when Zimbabwe is seeking large-scale anchor investors to stabilise industrial output and generate employment. Cement demand in southern Africa has been rising steadily, driven by urbanisation and state-backed infrastructure programmes, while regional power deficits have increased interest in privately funded generation capacity. Analysts note that vertically integrated players such as Dangote Industries are positioned to benefit from these trends, particularly if they can localise production and manage currency and logistics risks, as reported by Bloomberg.
Mahachi brings experience from both media and investment facilitation. An award-winning journalist, she has previously worked with Germany’s international broadcaster Deutsche Welle and African television network Click Africa, which focuses on continental narratives and business stories. Her background places her at the intersection of communication and deal-making, a combination that may prove useful as Dangote Industries seeks to build credibility with regulators, financiers and local partners in a market where investor confidence remains sensitive to policy consistency.
The expansion into Zimbabwe also reflects Dangote’s longer-term ambition to strengthen intra-African supply chains for cement and energy-related inputs. With the African Continental Free Trade Area gradually lowering barriers to regional trade, large industrial groups are increasingly positioning themselves in multiple markets to serve cross-border demand more efficiently. Industry observers view Zimbabwe as a strategic hub for southern Africa, given its proximity to major markets such as South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique, as noted by Reuters.