Mining transforms Matabeleland North

Leonard Ncube and Caroline Mutsawu, Sunday News Reporters

VAST mining activities in Matabeleland North province have been critical to growth of the province and the country’s attainment of Vision 2030 for an upper middle-income society, a Government Minister has said.

Giving welcoming remarks at the 8th Ordinary Meeting of Experts and the Council of Ministers of the African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA) which ended in Victoria Falls on Thursday, Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Richard Moyo said the province had witnessed pleasing mining industry growth in the New Dispensation. 

He said there has been further investments and expansion of existing mining projects in line with the philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind. 

While the conference was about diamond mining and Matabeleland North has no diamond deposits, Minister Moyo said coal, gold, lithium, tin, tantalite and methane gas provide the much needed economic opportunities.

“We are proud to hail from a province that boasts significant coal deposits, coal bed methane and other key minerals such as tin, tantalite and lithium at Kamativi, copper in Gwayi area and industrial minerals like fireclay for ceramics, calcite and much more. 

“It is from this basket that we are certain that the mining sector targets will be achieved. The growth of the mining sector is contributing significantly towards the development of Matabeleland North Province and the province is contributing immensely in the implementation of National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and Vision 2030,” said Minister Moyo.

He said the province takes cognisance of the impact that mining projects in Matabeleland North towards the vision of achieving an Upper Middle-Income Economy as envisioned by President Mnangagwa.

The minister said the targets can be achieved through direct and indirect employment creation, increased coal revenues and value addition in the mining sector. Government has set a target of a US$12 billion mining industry by the end of this year and Minister Moyo said the province is poised towards attainment of a US$1 billion coal mining sub-sub-sector. 

“We wish to assure you that since your (President Mnangagwa) visit to the province in July 2020 whereby you commissioned various energy minerals projects, the province has seen a massive boost in the economic and social welfare of locals. 

“We are proud to see how the diligent hard works of men and women in the mining industry in Matabeleland North have set a great example towards the national vision. In your efforts towards Devolution of Power and resources, our province stands to benefit from the expansion of existing coal mining companies        and open room for employment, progress and empowerment locally,” he said.

He said the province aims to contribute significantly towards the mining sector’s vision of a US$12 Billion industry by the year 2023. 

This is a testament of the engagement and re-engagement efforts being pursued by the Second Republic.

Minister Moyo said the Government and stakeholders in Matabeleland North will work together in achieving the set goals.

“The province is committed to equally contribute to Vision 2030 of an upper middle income economy through development of mining projects and contributions from the tourism sector,” added the minister.

The conference was held on Wednesday and Thursday and was attended by experts from the diamond mining sector in the continent. There are 19 diamond producing nations in Africa who make up ADPA.