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George Maponga in Masvingo
Thousands of small-scale chrome miners in and around the mineral-rich Mashava area have been thrown a major lifeline as a Chinese firm is building a US$60 million smelting plant that will directly create more than 1 000 jobs.
The smelting plant being built by Zimbabwe Zhongxin Smelting Company, a joint venture between a Chinese firm and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, will stimulate economic activity in Masvingo and grow the province’s mining sector in line with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) that feeds into the country’s Vision 2030.
The first phase of the construction project is billed to be completed by year end.
The landmark investment testifies to Government’s commitment to create jobs and value add the country’s minerals resources and will have a positive boomerang effect on the national economy.
Small-scale miners were struggling for cheap access to a market for their chrome forcing them to travel as far as Kwekwe to have their mineral smelted.
Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira was yesterday buoyant about the investment by Zimbabwe Zhongxi Company saying the smelting project augured well for thousands of small-scale chrome extractors in Mashava and its surrounding areas.
“We are excited as a province by this investment by a Chinese firm and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces as it will enhance operations of thousands of small-scale chrome miners across Masvingo province.”
“Our small-scale miners will have close access to the market for their resource which will have ripple effects on the provincial economy,” he said.
Minister Chadzamira noted that 600 direct jobs will be created under the first phase of the project.
“Mashava and Mhandamabwe areas are very rich in chrome and the investment by Zimbabwe Zhongxin Smelting Company dovetails with our growth targets as a province because we are eyeing a US$8 billion mining economy in Masvingo by 2030.
“At the moment the size of our mining economy is around US$1,8 billion and with investments like the smelting plant we will soon surpass the US$2 billion mark.”
“In terms of employment creation about 600 direct jobs will be created when the first phase is complete and the figure will double upon total completion of the project.
“However, hundreds more jobs will even be created in downstream industries,” said Minister Chadzamira.
Under the first phase, US$30 million will be pumped into the project with the same amount expected to be poured to complete the second phase. The anticipated output from the plant is 50 000 tonnes of ferro-chrome annually.
This augurs well for the ongoing thrust by the New Dispensation to value add local minerals to benefit the national economy with Government having already banned exporting of raw chrome.
Masvingo is rich in many minerals and besides chrome, the province boasts huge reserves of gold, diamonds, coal and lithium among other minerals.
Online Reporter