Years of Neglect: The Slow Collapse of Vitezit Factory Raises Questions Over Accountability

Once a symbol of industrial strength in the heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Vitezit factory now stands as a haunting reminder of what decades of mismanagement, corruption, and political indifference can destroy. The long-awaited investigation into the collapse of the country’s largest gunpowder and explosives plant has been described by many as “too little, too late.”

The factory, located in Vitez, was once one of the most important defense and chemical production facilities in the region, employing thousands and exporting to dozens of countries. Today, its ruins tell a very different story — one of economic decay and systemic neglect.

According to former workers and local residents, the decline began years ago, when the factory was left without a clear ownership structure and burdened by growing debts. Production gradually stopped, equipment was sold or dismantled, and valuable technology was left to rot. In time, Vitezit transformed from an economic engine into a ghost site, its vast halls now filled with silence and rust.

Calls for a thorough investigation into the factory’s destruction have echoed for years, but progress has been slow. Critics argue that political interests and lack of transparency have allowed those responsible to evade accountability. Some even suggest that the destruction was deliberate — aimed at erasing any trace of one of Bosnia’s most strategic industries.

Residents of Vitez say the loss of Vitezit devastated the local economy. “This factory fed entire families,” one former employee recalled. “Now, it’s just ruins — and nobody is paying the price.”

While the investigation has finally begun, many fear it will serve only as a formality rather than a genuine effort to uncover the truth. The question remains whether the state is ready to confront decades of negligence that led to the downfall of an industrial giant that once represented progress, innovation, and pride.

For now, the remains of Vitezit stand as both a warning and a tragedy — a monument to what happens when corruption outlasts responsibility.

Author: M.J