Online Reporter
Conrad Mupesa, Mashonaland West Bureau
THE construction of US$2,5 billion cutting-edge mineral processing hub is expected to reshape the economic landscape of Zimbabwe and Botswana, spearheaded by a local firm, Bernard Development Corporation.
The project, a collaboration of the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) and Young Achievers Trust, aims to establish a cutting-edge mineral processing hub that will significantly enhance mineral beneficiation and create thousands of jobs.
This initiative will unfold in Redcliff town, Zibagwe Rural District, and Francistown in Botswana.
Key components of the project include a blast furnace for pig iron production, a state-of-the-art steel plant, and inland dry ports to facilitate trade and logistics.
The Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa has transformed the investment climate, resulting in many foreign and domestic investors taking up opportunities in different sectors of the economy mainly mining, agriculture, tourism and energy since 2018.
The investments have created thousands of jobs in keeping with President Mnangagwa’s promise, during the election campaign period.
Bernard Development Corporation chief executive officer, Mr Bernard Mutanga, said he has already engaged the government of Botswana, through the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), in the actualisation of the implementation of various investment projects.
A high-level delegation from Botswana, consisting of officials from BITC, the Botswana Development Corporation (BDC), and the Minerals Development Company Botswana (MDCB), is presently in Zimbabwe.
Their mission includes finalising arrangements and inspecting the designated project sites, which are essential for the initiative’s success.
Central to this initiative is the Bern-Win Utopia Eco-Smart City, strategically located within Zimbabwe’s golden triangle — bordered by Kwekwe, Gweru, and Mvuma.
This eco-smart city is designed to accommodate approximately 400 000 residents, with housing for over two million people.
Planned facilities include an airport, high-end executive villas, a modern hospital, and recreational amenities, including a game reserve.
Explained Mr Mutanga: “The residents will primarily be employees from the Ber-Pig Iron and Steel Company and Ber-Minerals Resources Company.”
The project will also focus on the production of soda ash, a vital ingredient in steel processing and glass manufacturing.
This could lead to the revitalisation of Zimbabwe’s glass industry, including operations like Zim-Glass in Gweru.
“We are already in talks with various stakeholders regarding the production of soda ash,” he noted.
Additionally, sourcing coking coal from Gwayi, Matabeleland North, will support essential coke production for steel manufacturing.
The Botswana delegation is set to meet with local officials from Zibagwe, Chirumanzu, and Vungu rural district councils.
These discussions will cover the technical aspects of rural development projects associated with the initiative, ensuring that the benefits extend to surrounding communities.
As the project progresses, it promises to reinvigorate industries previously impacted by the closure of Zisco, including Sable Chemical Industries Limited and Lancashire Steel.
The landmark development represents a significant step toward economic recovery and growth as championed by the Second Republic.
With strategic partnerships and a commitment to sustainable development, Mr Mutanga’s vision is set to usher in a new era of prosperity for both nations.
“This project is crucial for the economic future of our countries,” he said, emphasising its importance as one of the most significant economic undertakings in recent history.
