The Musina–Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ) is a special economic zone whose construction has been delayed by ten years. The Zimbabwe‑adjacent project was halted due to strong objections from environmental groups over the impact the industrial centre would have on the surrounding area. Project proponents have argued that the MMSEZ has potential as an inland intermodal terminal because of its location along the Southern African region’s north–south corridor.
Anchoring the development will be a coal power plant providing electricity to a large metallurgical complex. That is envisioned to consist of a ferrochrome, ferromanganese, pig iron, steel, lime, silicon-manganese, metal silicon, and calcium carbide processing plants. A logistics hub, agro-processing centre, light-to-medium manufacturing industries, SMME Incubation Centre, retail centres, hotels and residential amenities are also part of the plan. Former trade and industry minister Rob Davies approved the declaration of MMSEZ as a special economic zone in July 2016. That came only a few months after a public consultation process into the development in April 2016. The actual declaration and establishment of MMSEZ as a state-owned company only happened in 2017. In September 2018, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the project as one of the key outcomes of a South Africa-China investment partnership.
At the time, it was estimated that Chinese investors would pour R40 billion into the development. The September 2019 Master Plan estimated the total cost of the MMSEZ at R334 billion.
The purpose of this industrial and economic zone is to create an entire city from scratch, aligned with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Its goal is to generate income and create jobs for South African youth. However, using environmentally unfriendly materials to produce polluting energy undermines green economic interests. The construction of a coal‑fired power plant sends the wrong message about climate change and South Africa’s stance on the issue. It would be better if Pretoria approved a hybrid industrial plan that allows a transition from coal to solar and, where feasible, wind power depending on energy demand. Coal should not be a permanent solution.
The project should be planned not unilaterally by the government but in partnership with civil society and the affected communities. Investment and partnerships with China should be approached with caution. The concerns of local communities near the MMSEZ must be addressed regarding how the project will benefit them
Recent Parliamentary briefings revealed the project will only enter its formal feasibility study phase in the 2025/2026 financial year. Therefore, the final cost, engineering designs, and environmental impact are yet to be established. One of the biggest problems is the project’s envisioned water requirements, which will require dams on the Limpopo and Sand River. Environmental and legal opponents allege there are fatal flaws with those plans that effectively render the project highly unlikely, if not dead in the water. Firstly, the Sand River is prone to silting. Unless the development installs expensive filters, the dam’s effective life will only be around 12 to 25 years.
Furthermore, the Limpopo River is shared by Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Mozambique. Diverting up to 60% of its flow, as has been proposed, will likely require an elaborate international agreement. The construction of the dams will also result in water flooding the N1 highway, requiring sections of the road to be rerouted.
As President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government moves forward with this industrial plan, the government and its corporate partners will need to develop new solutions to address the situation. For this reason, an interim measure was proposed: treated water would be exported from Zimbabwe via pipelines across the Limpopo River. This will be temporary until the dam filters and water‑pumping reservoirs for the project are fully constructed, a process expected to take at least eight to ten years. The purpose of the MMSEZ is to create new sources of industry and private enterprise to move the country forward. Because the zone borders Zimbabwe, it can be beneficial to both nations
South Africa is moving day by day toward economic integration with its neighbours. On the issue of diverting sixty percent of water from Zimbabwe and Mozambique, a diplomatic solution must be reached. Part can be exported through Zimbabwe via the piping system, and part can be diverted through the dams and reservoirs currently under construction. To avoid flooding roads such as the N1, the water project will be implemented with caution.
The MMSEZ is being built to create jobs and to serve as one of the first steps in moving the South African economy toward a better future. It should address environmental concerns and focus on generating power from solar and related sources. All in all, the project deserves the best of luck.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
