Mining breathes life into Mat North

Zambezi is the live vein that attracts fishing communities to its ever-flowing deep waters. In the   belly of the river’s valley are buried huge coal and gas deposits, whose economic values goes beyond diction and business hyperbole.
After years of perennial droughts, Matabeleland North Province has always been condemned as poverty-stricken.
It has been depicted as a caricature of low rainfall, limited schools, no banks, poor service delivery, poor road networks and of course, the scorching temperatures. The emergence of new mining companies in Matabeleland North province has stirred development in the region as the mines have become the long-awaited catalyst to development.
According to Mines Inspector Mr Newton Zvavambira, the existence of the mines in the province has become the cornerstone for development in the communities in which they are found.
“These mines also benefited local people as entities such as the service providers are now available and there has been the introduction of various banks to the indigenous business.
“These mines have employed 65 percent of the of Hwange residents and it is a positive development in the economy of our country, while the mines and mining companies have generally benefited from their exploits, the community has hugely benefited,” says Mr Zvavambira.
He said Makomo Resources, one of the mines in Hwange, now employs approximately 400 workers from the local community, while South Mining, a coal processing company, has absorbed approximately 300 locals. 
Makomo Resources is dedicated to the preservation of the environment even after mining activity through filling the pits and maintaining wetlands.
South Mining Company public relations officer Mr Charles Muchabaiwa said his company has many development strategies in the province.
“We have built a community hall and donated to the local authorities in Hwange some vehicles which helps in the development of the district and the province,” he said.
He added that the coal processing company has offered scholarships and donated books and stationery to most schools in order to enhance the education in the province.
Meanwhile, Chibondo Mine is also into women empowerment and community development.
According to the executive chairman of Chibondo Mine, Dr Cephas Msipa, the mine has the welfare of  women at heart and has 100 local women who are employed at the mine and they are also support the women in their projects.
“We have several scholarships being offered to the children in the community, we are also constructing a secondary school in Tinde, Binga,” said Dr Msipa.
He also confirmed that the mining company is also in the process of building a clinic in the Hwange district.
Liberation Mine, one of the mines which is in the process of producing coal, is constructing the Gwayi-Lubimbi Road and also is also improving the road network between Binga and the provincial capital, Lupane.
Hwange Colliery Company, by far the biggest coal mining company in the region and in the country, has more than 3 500 employees and is complemented by the success of the tourism boom precipitated by the imposing presence of Hwange National Park.
Hwange National Park is the country’s biggest national park and boasts the “big five” and a major tourism in Matabeleland North and the country as a whole.
Hwange Colliery Company public relations manager Mr Burzil Dube says his company had many development strategies in the province which include contributions towards the construction of the Lupane State University, the first ever university in the province. The colliery company, which has been awarded a Special Grant to explore and extract for coal bed methane gas in the Lubimbi area is in the process of seeking a strategic partner to assist in financing the project. The company is providing people of Hwange as well as the whole province with several services from their hospital, the maintenance of the roads and many other facilities in the town.
There are, however, more than five mining companies operating in the province.
Zimbabwe’s mining sector continues to be on a recovery path with figures showing that mineral exports have increased by 35 percent this year.
Zimbabwe has large deposits of coal, gold, platinum asbestos, base metals and diamonds.