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The development is set to create direct employment for hundreds of locals while at the same time boosting economic growth not only for the province but the country as well.
The companies’ environmental impact assessments (EIAs) have been approved by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), which has since given the companies the green light to start operations.
An environmental impact assessment is an assessment of the possible positive or negative impact that a proposed project may have on the environment.
According to a latest EMA report read during the Matabeleland North provincial development committee meeting on Thursday last week, the EIAs for the seven companies were approved in the first quarter of this year.
Discovery Investments Company has been given the go-ahead to conduct coal bed methane gas exploration in Mzola and Dandanda communal lands in Lupane and Binga districts.
Markrock Exploration and Mining Company would do coal exploration in the Gwayi area of Lupane while Glotech Engineering would establish a Spiral Plant at Hwange Colliery.
The spiral plant will process coal waste into coke.
Nookview Trading would establish a crocodile farm along the Zambezi River in Cheziya area in Hwange while Chikopokopo Helicopter Tours would operate two helicopters for hire in Victoria Falls.
Canister Resources has been granted permission to do gold exploration in Donkwe area in Tsholotsho while the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe would expand its Victoria Falls Airport.
In separate interviews yesterday, some of the officials from the new companies said they were excited by the approval of their projects and indicated that they would soon start operations.
“This is a positive development for our operations, the local community and the country as a whole. We can now start working. As it is we are finalising paperwork and preparing to go on site,” said Mr Lloyd Hove, the director of Discovery Investments.
“We look forward to contributing to the development of the community through offering employment, building schools, clinics and the road network.”
Glotech Engineering proprietor Mr Paradzai Chakona said his company was ready to start working but needed to liaise with the Hwange Colliery Company board.
“We could have started working but at the moment we are waiting for Hwange Colliery Board to give us the go-ahead. This project would create value out of the coal dumps and offer jobs to more than 100 people in direct and downstream employment,” said Mr Chakona.
“Our operations would also reduce pollution through reclamation. The project will give new life to the site and create wealth for the country. We expect to generate about $2 million per month in exports.”
While other companies could not be reached for comment yesterday, the provincial manager for EMA, Mrs Chipo Zuze Mpofu, said the granting of EIA certificates gave the companies the nod to start operations.
“The EIAs for the seven companies were approved in the first quarter of this year. They have been given the go-ahead to do their explorations. You can now go to the ground and see how they operate,” she said.
However, the EIA for China-Africa Sunlight Energy, which intends to carry out exploration in Gwayi, was rejected on the grounds that it did not contain sufficient information.
“China-Africa Sunlight Energy submitted an EIA report to the agency and the report was rejected because it did not have sufficient information. The company was ordered to re-submit a fresh report,” said Mrs Mpofu.
She said the company which had started preparatory work towards exploration, was ordered to cease operations until it was issued with an EIA certificate.
China-Africa Sunlight Energy is one of the companies that were awarded a Special Grant to explore and extract coal and coal-bed methane in the Hwange and Gwayi areas.
Matabeleland North Mining Commissioner Mrs Lindiwe Florence Thusi also said the granting of EIAs means companies could start working.
Contacted for comment, Matabeleland North Governor Thokozile Mathuthu said as a province, they were excited by the development and urged the companies to work harmoniously with the local communities.
“When a company comes to the province, it signs a memorandum of understanding pledging to work well with the local communities. We therefore expect companies to honour this pledge,” said Governor Mathuthu.
She said companies were expected to engage locals especially for general work that does not require skilled personnel.
Recently, the Minister of Mines and Mining Development Dr Obert Mpofu announced that more companies were keen on investing in mining activities in Matabeleland North.
He castigated the Gwayi Catchment Council stakeholders for trying to block the new investments, which he said will go a long way in uplifting the livelihoods of ordinary people.
The council argues that the new mining activities would scare away wild animals in the area and destroy the tourism industry.
Online Reporter