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within rural communities as big projects that seek to empower locals are mushrooming, Zanu-PF national chairman has said.
Speaking during the commissioning of the New Moments Gold Mine in Mpoengs, Mangwe District yesterday, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo said people have to exploit the opportunities that are presented by the indigenisation and empowerment policy.
“The indigenisation policy is bearing fruits within rural communities, as we can see through the New Moments Mine that is being commissioned today. Our country is rich and the indigenisation policy exists to ensure that people exploit the opportunities that it has,” he said.
Cde Moyo said the mining industry was one of the key sectors of the economy and had to be developed even within rural communities.
“We have three sectors that are the main contributors to the country’s GDP and these are the mining, agricultural and tourism sectors. Local people now have any opportunity to venture into these sectors through the indigenisation policy.
“As rural communities let us explore these sectors in order to develop our areas. We have places here in Matabeleland South Province that could be turned into tourists attractions, let us open up irrigations and let us exploit the minerals that we have in our areas in order to realise empowerment,” said Cde Moyo.
He encouraged people from Matabeleland South to vote for Zanu-PF in the coming elections, as the MDC leadership failed to bring development into the province.
“When we get to the elections we expect 100 percent votership for the president from the province of Matabeleland South, as you all realise that the current MDC leadership did not bring any development to the province.
“The leadership has only been professing to bring change, but we wonder what change that is as it has definitely not been that of development. It is therefore up to you, as a province to vote for leaders that will bring development to this province,” he said.
Speaking at the same event, Matabeleland Governor Angeline Masuku said people had to follow the footsteps of New Moments and utilise the land, which people fought to gain.
“Let us emulate the development that we see being brought by New Moments Enterprises, which is opening a gold mine in Matabeleland South. There is a lot that has been done and a lot that we can do with the land that we fought to gain despite the sanctions that exist.
“We acknowledge the work being done by the proprietors of this company, as they are bringing employment opportunities and empowerment to our province,” she said.
Director of New Moments Enterprises Private Limited, Mr Obedingwa Madlala Mguni said the mine would commence operations on Monday.
“Now that the mine has been commissioned we expect operations to begin on Monday. For now we will be processing six tonnes of gold per hour and we hope to expand our output to 600 tonnes a day,” he said.
Mr Mguni said the company was targeting opening a quarry mine in July.
“We will be opening a quarry mine at Izimyama area, Mangwe District in July. The mine will be producing quarry as well as bricks and we hope to supply Bulawayo and other nearby areas.
“These mining initiatives are a result of the indigenisation policy, which now enables us black people to enjoy the fruits of our liberation struggle. It is because of this policy that we are able to provide jobs for locals through the mining ventures that we are taking up as a company,” he said.
Mr Mguni said the New Moments Gold Mine had 105 workers, but because of the expansion and growth that was expected, the company hoped to employ about 2 000 people by year end.
Online Reporter