Sundaymail Editor
George Maponga in Masvingo
The newly established Zimbabwe Zhongxin Chrome Smelting plant in Mashava has ramped up production to 1 500 tonnes of ferrochrome per month, boosting employment and economic activity in the region.
The increased output has led to the company expanding its permanent workforce to over 200 employees, marking a significant milestone for the local economy.
Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Ezra Chadzamira hailed the smelting plant as a game-changer for small-scale miners in the chrome-rich Mashava area.
Speaking at a Zimcodd media workshop on the province’s economic growth strategy, he emphasised the plant’s role in driving socio-economic development.
“The project has also empowered women, youths, and war veterans by granting them mining claims on land previously designated for exploration prospecting orders,” Minister Chadzamira said.
Since opening two years ago, the ferrochrome plant has provided a lifeline for thousands of small-scale miners in Mashava and surrounding areas.
The company has invested approximately US$70 million into the project, a testament to the success of the Second Republic’s ‘Zimbabwe is Open for Business’ mantra in attracting foreign direct investment.
With continued growth, the smelting plant is expected to further cement Mashava’s position as a key player in Zimbabwe’s mining sector while contributing to the province’s goal of achieving a US$8 billion GDP by 2030.
Tinaye Agere
Online Reporter