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Herald Reporter
Communities and investors in Mashonaland East must cultivate common development goals, Mashonaland East Minister of State for Provincial and Devolution Affairs Apollonia Munzverengwi said at a ceremony where investor Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe was handing over major work at a primary school.
In light of major investments coming into the province which are set to boost the local gross domestic product as well as national development, Minister Munzverengwi said Government was looking for comprehensive strategic partnerships that would assist in attaining Vision 2030, as enunciated by President Mnangagwa.
She was speaking at the ceremony where classroom blocks, teachers’ houses, furniture and textbooks donated by Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe were handed over to Vhuta Primary School in Goromonzi.
Said Minister Munzverengwi: “As Government, we advocate win-win partnerships, and we urge investors to strive for holistic engagements with local stakeholders and communities and grow harmonious relations. We urge the investors to deepen cooperation with communities and spare more resources to better livelihoods of our poor communities in areas such as education, health and employment equity.”
But communities should safeguard instead of destroying investments in their areas as they would benefit from them.
Chinese giant Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt bought the Arcadia Lithium Mine from Australian investors for US$422 million and has poured in a further US$300 million towards mine development.
The construction stage is set to finish at the end of the month and then a projected 450 million tonnes of ores will be mined each year from the first quarter of next year.
“This investment is your benefit,” Minister Munzverengwi told the community. “Let us not destroy it through unnecessary conflicts, slander and rumour mongering. We must hold dear this prized possession amongst us, and strive to work hard, build and succeed together.
PLZ has a number of other community-focused initiatives in health, water and sanitation as well as infrastructure development that will assist the predominantly agriculture and mining district.
Meanwhile, another mega investment, the US$1 billion steel plant at Manhize in Chivhu, is also taking shape in the province.
Minister Munzverengwi said the projects driven by Chinese investments would help the country attain the US$12 billion mining target by 2023.
Online Reporter