adminThe country which is endowed with natural resources continues to discover new minerals. The nation which is still celebrating its victory against the countries that wanted to block its trade in diamonds from Marange, on Wednesday recorded yet another milestone achievement when it held a ground-breaking ceremony for the $2 billion coal and methane gas project in the Gwayi area of Lupane in Matabeleland North province.
The coal and methane gas project which will boost power generation and create about 4 000 jobs, is expected to start next month.
The project is expected to generate about 1 800 megawatts of electricity which will go a long way in addressing the country’s power deficit.
Only last month the country was given the green light to export its diamonds from Marange unhindered by the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KP).
Zimbabwe’s enemies which include the US, Canada and other western countries tried to block the country from exporting its diamonds from Marange but last month KP ruled that the country had fulfilled all the requirements to certify its own diamonds exports.
Zimbabwe has since the imposition of sanctions, recorded phenomenal growth in the mining sector and has witnessed huge investments especially in platinum and diamond mining.
It is a fact that had it not been for the sanctions, the country could have achieved a lot more but what is comforting is that the sanctions have strengthened the country’s resolve to do without external assistance.
The same countries that have been on the forefront in calling for sanctions against Zimbabwe are realising that it’s them that cannot do without Zimbabwe hence they are now softening their stance.
Many of these countries need raw materials such as minerals for their industries and therefore can no longer afford to continue shutting out Zimbabwe which continues to discover new mineral deposits.
The country’s challenge now is to move to the next stage of value addition so that these countries that have over the years benefited from paying little for our mineral ores can buy semi processed minerals or finished products from us.
The Government has already advised platinum mining companies to, beginning next year, work towards establishing a local platinum refinery so that the platinum is processed here.
At the moment all the platinum mined here is processed in South Africa.
What is happening under this arrangement is that the country is being shortchanged not only through realising little from platinum ore but also through exporting jobs to South Africa.
All those workers employed at the refineries processing the Zimbabwean platinum are benefiting from jobs that are supposed to be for Zimbabweans.
Zimbabwe has the world’s biggest known platinum reserves after SA and there is therefore no excuse for failing to establish our own platinum refinery.
Another huge mining investment, NewZim Steel, is also expected to resume operations next month and we want to believe that there will be no bickering this time around.
The nation should therefore brace for these positives that should quickly turn around the economy and shame our detractors.
Online Reporter