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Manicaland Correspondent
MUTARE South artisanal miners last week received two mobile gold processing plants from Zanu-PF candidate for the constituency, Cde Jefrey Ngome.
The machines that were presented to the Mutare South community at Chief Zimunya’s community court are set to create employment for artisanal miners in the constituency and help lessen their work load.
In an interview, Cde Ngome said the user-friendly machines were meant to assist artisanal miners as they no longer needed to process gold manually.
“Lack of equipment among artisanal miners in Mutare South constituency is usually costly as they have to hire equipment from well-off people but that is no longer necessary as with the help of the two plants, work will be easier,” said Cde Ngome.
“The moving plants arrived yesterday and they are for the Mutare South constituency. After elections, we will start by locating gold claims in the constituency and move around with 20 youths per month, per claim.
“We will rotate with different groups of youths each month so that everybody gets their fair opportunities of using the machine at the claims and help sustain their families.”
The machines are environmentally friendly, as they do not require any chemicals to operate.
“The machines are diesel powered and do not use poisonous chemicals like other mining machines.
“They do not use cyanide, which is poisonous and kills cattle and other animals. They only use water,” said Cde Ngome.
The mobile gold processing plant processes a tonne of gold ore per hour.
Cde Ngome urged all youths to go and vote in their numbers and maintain the prevailing peaceful environment.
He said mining presented an opportunity for employment and personal development and all that was needed was for artisanal miners to be equipped.
“I urge all youths to keep saying no to political violence,” said Cde Ngome.
“Let us go to vote in our numbers peacefully so that we start locating our gold claims in the constituency and create jobs soon after the elections.
“It is in my plans that we supply the whole constituency with mobile gold processing plants since the majority of the population is into artisanal mining.”
Cde Ngome invested R1 million in buying and transporting the plants from South Africa to Zimbabwe.
Addressing the same gathering, Minister of Provincial Affairs for Manicaland Monica Mutsvangwa urged supporters to remain united before, during and after the elections.
She urged them to go in their numbers and vote for President Mnangagwa on Monday.
“President Mnangagwa does not make empty promises and that has been evidenced by the achievements he has accomplished for this country during the seven months that he has been in power,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
“His biggest slogan is the economy and development and not competition like what other political parties are doing.”
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter