malvernmugadzikwaKuda Bwititi
Zimpapers Elections Desk
MASHONALAND West prefers to be called “Mashonaland Best”.
The province — which has seven districts: Kariba, Sanyati, Zvimba, Chegutu, Makonde, Mhondoro-Ngezi and Hurungwe — abounds in natural resources perfect for agriculture, mining, energy generation and tourism.
As home to the biggest stretch of the mineral-rich Great Dyke, it is unsurprising that most of the country’s major minerals are found in the province.
And, as such, over the past five years, President Mnangagwa’s administration has been implementing targeted policies and projects meant to boost its economy.
Official statistics indicate that over the past five years, Government has implemented 604 projects in the province, of which 452 have been completed, while the remaining 152 are ongoing.
New mines, expansion
Among the many mining ventures in the province that have positively responded to the pro-business environment fostered by the Second Republic is Zimplats, the country’s biggest platinum producer.
In 2021, it signed a memorandum of understanding with Government to invest US$1,8 billion to expand its operations by 2025.
Last month, it commissioned its US$133 million third concentrator as part of the ambitious project, which also includes the development of new mines, expansion of the smelter, and construction of an additional concentrator, base metal refinery, sulphuric acid plant and a 110MW solar power plant.
The investment is envisaged to create more than 6 000 jobs.
A new platinum mine, Great Dyke Investments, which was taken over by Kuvimba Mining House after the exit of Russian investors, is also shaping up, and so, too, is Karo Platinum Mine in Mhondoro-Ngezi.
Tharisa — the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE)-listed miner, which owns Karo — recently announced that it had secured a US$130 million facility from France’s Société Générale and South Africa’s Absa Bank to develop the mine.
It expects first production to start next year.
Another platinum investor that was recently lured successfully by Government was Bravura, which is owned by Nigerian billionaire Benedict Peters. It has already completed exploration and feasibility studies.
In Chinhoyi, the copper processing plant at Alaska Mine has been revived after a US$6 million injection from Chinese investor Grand Sanyuan.
The firm presently has a collaborative relationship with the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC).
Before the investment, the plant had been defunct since 2000.
In Sanyati, investors similarly injected US$17 million to expand RioZim Cam and Motor Mine. This has seen gold output progressively increase at the mine.
All this feeds into Government’s stated plan to resuscitate closed mines, lure new investors and foster an enabling environment that allows existing mines to expand.
Education
The province has also not been left behind in education, as the Chinhoyi University of Technology benefitted from an innovation hub that was constructed by Government, in line with Education 5.0, which is premised on heritage-based education.
The project also saw the installation of equipment for the Advanced Cattle Reproductive Technologies Laboratory that will help boost research in cattle reproductive technologies, including artificial insemination.
Construction of the Industrial Park Milking Parlour was also completed.
It is expected to improve milk production and processing at a commercial scale at the university.
Devolution projects have also witnessed the construction of new schools such as Kauzhumba Primary and Mayovhe Secondary in Kariba; and Westview and Jinkstown primary schools in Hurungwe and Chegutu, respectively.
In Chegutu district, 17 primary and secondary schools were connected to the internet.
The schools include Blandford, Chinengundu, Chingwere, Chirundazi, Clifford, David White Head, Dombwe, Gavaza, Hartley 2, Hartley, Kawara, Knowe, Madzongwe, Masawi, Mutimusakwa, St Marks Neuso and Marisamhuka.
In Hurungwe district, 21 were connected to the internet, eight in Kariba, 12 in Makonde, 25 in Mhondoro-Ngezi, 28 in Zvimba and 10 in Sanyati.
Health
Construction of the Banket District Hospital was completed and the facility is now operational.
In addition, pharmacy storage facilities have been constructed at several health centres such as the Banket District Hospital, Raffingora Rural Hospital, Zvimba Rural Hospital, Darwendale Rural Hospital, Makonde Christian Hospital and St Ruperts Mission Hospital.
In Chegutu, three new clinics — Danangwe, Two Tree and Chipfuwamiti — have been constructed to improve access to quality health care.
New Parliament building
One of the signature projects of the Second Republic, the new Parliament building in Mt Hampden, proudly sits in Mashonaland West.
The 10th Parliament is likely to have the privilege to use the majestic facility, which is also expected to be the nucleus of a new city.
Dubai-based billionaire Mr Shaji Ul Mulk, who was charmed by President Mnangagwa’s vision at Expo 2020 Dubai, has already begun constructing a cyber city in a US$500 million ambitious project.
Agriculture
The contribution by the province to the country’s food security is notable.
This year, it has put 27 000 hectares under wheat, which is significant considering the 86 000 hectares (ha) that have been planted countrywide.
All in all, there are 48 000ha under irrigation in the province, while nutrition gardens have been established in areas such as Ketsanga, Kakwindi, Mahwau and Campten in Hurungwe district.
Further, under the Presidential Rural Development Programme, 107 boreholes were drilled in Hurungwe and Zvimba districts, whilst 233 broken-down hand pumps were rehabilitated.
Road engineering
A key route in the North-South corridor — the Harare-Chirundu highway — passes through the province.
Five local contractors have been engaged to rehabilitate the road.
Other roads in the province are being attended to as well, as seven rural district councils have managed to use devolution funds to procure road equipment.
In total, 95 roads have since been spruced up.
David Whitehead revival
The people of Chegutu and Kadoma are presently expectant, as one of Southern Africa’s biggest textile companies, David Whitehead Textiles, is being revived by an Indian investor, Agri Value Chain.
A machine retooling programme valued at US$20 million, targeting to replace about 90 percent of obsolete machinery, is currently underway.
To date, 40 percent of spinning and weaving machinery has been received and more is in transit.
Massive civil works are ongoing at the factory in preparation for installation of the new equipment.
The company, which is critical in the cotton value chain, has the potential to employ over 5 000 people.
The glory days might soon be back for Chegutu and Kadoma.
The province is definitely not being left behind.
Tinaye Agere
Online Reporter