Challenges Facing Heavy Engineering Companies in Zimbabwe: A Case of Gulliver Consolidated Industries

The purpose of this study is to assess the challenges facing heavy engineering companies (HEC) in Zimbabwe with a particular reference to Gulliver Consolidated Industries. The companies have been in its worst state in the year 2008 while other neighboring countries economies were booming such as Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Namibia and Botswana. The study used a qualitative survey method to collect data using Gulliver Consolidated Industries in Zimbabwe using stratified sampling method. A descriptive analysis of the sampled firms was used to draw conclusions on the challenges facing heavy engineering companies. The study highlighted that heavy engineering companies in Zimbabwe are riddled with severe financing constraints, low volume of work, poor human resource base, undercapitalization, obsolete equipment, uncompetitive exports, unclearly structured Government policies, political, poor direct foreign investments, economic uncertainty and unavailability of cheap good quality raw materials which are affecting their viability and growth.