Andrew
Online Reporter
LITHIUM projects currently being undertaken by Chinese investors in the country will create more than 3 000 jobs for Zimbabweans, the Chamber of Chinese Enterprises in Zimbabwe (CCEZ) has said.
CCEZ is an association that brings together 85 Chinese state-owned and private companies operating in Zimbabwe. It has a combined labour force of over 100 000 Zimbabweans.
That figure is expected to grow significantly over the next few years.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail Online, CCEZ vice chairperson and publicity secretary, Mrs Shanel Liu, said one of the lithium companies had set aside more than US$1 million to complement the District Development Fund (DDF).
“China is the world’s biggest electric vehicles market, and has over the years increased investments in Africa to diversify the supply of lithium.
“This year, there are numbers of new investments on lithium mining in Zimbabwe, and there are four Chinese-listed companies that have stepped into Zimbabwe lithium mining.
“As leaders in their field, some of their main businesses are in new energy lithium battery materials processing, production, and capable to carry out the full lithium battery industrial chain,” she said.
Mrs Shanel said corporate social responsibility through improving the lives of local communities and local economies were an important part of companies under CCEZ.
Online Reporter