Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
KAMATIVI residents have appealed to the ruling party, Zanu-PF to urgently help resuscitate Kamativi Mine which they said used to be the cornerstone of the local community’s livelihoods.
This comes amid reports that some companies that are exploring the area have indicated that residents will be evicted from houses they have occupied since the tin mine’s heyday to pave way for new workers.
The mine, located close to 180km south-east of Hwange town, was closed in 1994 when the international price of tin plummeted to unsustainable levels.
The tin mine was at the time employing about 3 000 workers and still had a life span of over 40 years.
The mine is wholly-owned by the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC).
It will now be reopened as a lithium multi-element ore body operation under a US$1,4 billion investment.
Government also has plans to construct a 20MW solar plant in Kamativi.
The reopening of the mine has been stalled by a legal battle between Zimbabwe Lithium Company, which Government granted a concession at Kamativi in 2018, and Beijing Pinchang, a Chinese firm that had expressed interest in reviving operations at the defunct mine.
The matter was heard at the High Court in Harare under case number HC8070/18 and the courts ruled in favour of Zimbabwe Lithium Company over mining rights at the tailings dump but the Chinese firm appealed the ruling at the Supreme Court.
Speaking at a Zanu-PF rally organised by the Hwange District Co-ordinating Committee (DCC) in Kamativi on Saturday, residents implored the ruling party to push for the reopening of the mine immediately.
“Our youth are poor because they have no jobs yet we have a resource here. We want this mine opened now we appeal to Zanu-PF and President Mnangagwa because we want Kamativi to be revived like other mines,” said a resident.
Another said reopening the mine will transform the economy of the area.
“We have gone for 10 years being told that they are only taking samples. They have dug more than 2 000 holes claiming to be taking samples and we have come to a stage where we are saying enough of that exploitation. We now want a straightforward company here,” the resident said.
Ms Catherine Munkombwe said she settled in Kamativi in 1975 when her late husband got a job at the mine but her children have not been employed because they grew up when the mine had closed.
“My son has never been employed yet we have resources here. Now they tell us that they want to evict us, we don’t want that.
“We used to have good life because of Kamativi mine and we want it resuscitated so that our children get jobs. These Chinese miners always come to take samples and go forever,” she said.
Mrs Otilia Nkomo said;
“The President has said the mine should be reopened and we want just that. We are not moving out of our houses. This is our message to you leaders that we want our mine so that our children have jobs,” said Mrs Nkomo, who is also Zanu-PF Kamativi district vice-chair.
It is hoped that once reopened, Kamativi mine will employ up to 700 people.
Zanu-PF Hwange DCC chairperson Cde Matthew Muleya who was guest speaker said the mine’s reopening will uplift people’s livelihoods.
“We were happy when Zimbabwe Lithium came because they had promised to improve water and electricity situation. We want to take this message to President Mnangagwa that the mine should be reopened because this is the company that can remove our people from poverty and help contribute to 5 million votes,” he said. — @ncubeleon
Online Reporter