adminSydney Kawadza Mashonaland West Bureau Chief
Old Mutual Life Assurance Zimbabwe Limited’s venture to build a modern private hospital facility and an industrial park in Turf Village of Mhondoro-Ngezi has kicked off.
The project, which would also include a ball technology foundry factory and mining support solutions, is in the planning phase, with technical designs and the environmental and social impact assessment processing running concurrently.
In a public notice last week, Old Mutual Investments group projects manager Mr Peter Mutenda and principal consultant Mr Webster Muti of Waterkings Environment Consultancy called for stakeholder submissions, with the deadline set for July 26 this year.
“For clarity and specificity in the ESIA process, the four projects are being assessed individually as stand-alone, although the MMS and BTF factories are derived from the global Industrial Park Project,” the notice read.
According to the public notice, the industrial park will be established on 15 hectares of land directly opposite Wanganui High School, with the scope including establishment of seven stand-alone state-of-the-art industrial shells to accommodate diverse industrial activities.
“Project activities include road network, water supply, sewer network, electricity supply, communication and other related support services,” read the notice. “Electricity, water, sewer and other service requirements for the development will be supplied from the existing RDC and ZETDC infrastructure which are proven to have adequate capacity for current and future development.”
Old Mutual said one of the industrial shells would be occupied by the vall technology foundry, which is expected to employ at least 200 workers, will be manufacturing high chrome grade balls used in the processing of platinum and other related customers.
The factory, which is expected to stop importation of raw materials, will be installed with facilities for management of potential water and air pollution; and general and hazardous waste.
The Mining Support Solutions Factory will also occupy another shell and will manufacture bolts used in support of rock in underground mining safety operations.
The factory will also substitute raw material imports for the local platinum industry and other local customers.
“Environmental and social risks associated with the MSS operations are expected to be low considering that there will be no effluent or air emissions or hazardous waste stream,” read the notice. “The steel shavings that are generated will be recycled.”
At least 12ha have been set aside for the private hospital and it will be directly opposite the Turf Village low density area.
“The hospital is being designed to cater for standard hospital operations, including and not limited to diagnostic and treatment functions such as clinical laboratories, imaging, emergency rooms and surgery,” read the notice.
Other services would include food service, housekeeping and fundamental in-patient care and bed-related function.
The Mhondoro-Ngezi RDC recently allocated 27ha for the project, with council chairman Alderman Ephraim Chengeta recently announcing that the land was provided at a discount.
The project is set to be a major facelift not only for the fast growing district, but Mashonaland West Province, amid reports that land evaluators had already assessed stands offered by the local authority for possible investment.
The local authority has offered Old Mutual land for the hospital and industrial park valued at US$4,25 and US$2,50 per square metre, respectively.
Online Reporter