Online Reporter
Victor Maphosa
Recently in TETE, Mozambique
Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Advocate Itayi Ndudzo recently led a high-powered delegation on a tour of Vulcan Moatize Mining Company in TETE province, Mozambique, as Zimbabwe and Mozambique continue to strengthen and deepen economic ties.
The delegation from Zimbabwe’s Mashonaland East province comprised of Government heads of departments and ministries, captains of industry, and those in the mining and agriculture sector.
Vulcan Mine focuses primarily on coal mining.The tour began at Vulcan’s conference centre, where a representative from the mining company, Dr Mukesh Kumar, briefed the team on the company’s operations, including its Waste to Energy Model.
Advocate Ndudzo and the Zimbabwean delegation were then led to see open-pit mining operations, about 17 km West of Tete city, where Vulcan produces 35 million tonnes of coal annually.
During the tour, the delegation was briefed on some of the steps taken by the company in its quest to protect the environment.
For instance, about 60 percent of the water used in the plants is recycled for reuse, whereby 50 sprinkler systems operate across haul roads to suppress dust.
Further, the company is in the process of constructing a power station capable of producing 3000 megawatts, powering the whole TETE province and surrounding communities, thereby unlocking more industrial and agricultural potential.
In an interview with Zimpapers on the sidelines of the tour in TETE, Advocate Ndudzo said they have learnt many lessons which they will take back to Zimbabwe and emphasised the importance of prioritising stronger economic ties between the two nations.
“We are now at a stage in our relationship between Zimbabwe and Mozambique, where we are going beyond the history of a shared struggle for the liberation of our two countries as we pursued independence,” he said.
“We are now deepening economic ties, which is the reason we are here in one of the mining districts of TETE province, we have visited their biggest coal mining site, which is being operated by Vulcan. There are many lessons we have learnt as a result of our visit here.
“Firstly, there is a key focus on exploration. Before they dug up the resources, a big portion of their budget has been on exploring where the resources are.
“Secondly, there is emphasis on sustainable mining, which is to ensure that they can extract the resources today without endangering livelihoods and the environment for tomorrow. Thirdly, I have established that the important aspect in terms of the whole approach is taking care of the inhabitants of this place. On this particular mining site, there were 200 families who were living here, and it has cost more than US$20 million for the company to build new homes for them and also to create sustainable livelihoods so that the people can benefit from this investment.
“They are better-off instead of being left worse-off as a result of the investment that has come into the area. This is a key lesson that I have learnt, that i will take with us to Mashonaland East province, that whenever an investment comes, it must better the inhabitants of that area. Investors must have a budget for relocation and reintegration of people into the economy of their investment.”
Minister Ndudzo said he was impressed by the huge investment in modern equipment technology used at the coal mine.
“I am pleased to learn of the huge investment in modern equipment and technology in the exploitation of resources on this site. We also learnt the aspect of wholesome utilisation of resources.”
Secretary of State for Tete Province Cristina de Jesus Xavier Mafumo said she was pleased to take the Zimbabwe delegation on a tour of one of their biggest coal mining site in the TETE province.
She said such tours give insight into the mining operations in TETE, and the delegation can also learn a lot from it.
She said when she led a high-powered delegation from TETE province to Mashonaland East province in April this year, they had an opportunity to tour a granite processing company in Mutoko district, and they learnt many lessons in terms of value addition of resources, which they carried back home.
Secretary Mafumo said it is prudent for Zimbabwe and Mozambique to continue strengthening economic relations for the benefit of the people.
