Chinese mining firm boosts Shurugwi miners, community development
Source: Chinese mining firm boosts Shurugwi miners, community development – The Southern Eye
Local artisanal miners in Shurugwi have received a major boost after Chinese mining giant Chengxi Chengetai Investments handed over mining machinery to help them kick-start their operations.
The donation, which also targeted youths and women in mining, is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to empower communities and support local economic development.
Provincial Affairs minister for Midlands Owen Ncube last Monday handed over the mining equipment, worth thousands of dollars, to hordes of artisanal miners.
Tomorrow, Ncube will also oversee the official handover of a milling centre at Wanderer Mine, coinciding with the reopening of the Shurugwi District Hospital mortuary, which has been out of service for seven years.
Chengxi Chengetai Investments in partnership with Zuva Mond, Zimasco, Unki Mine and Nichrut also funded the rehabilitation of the mortuary, which is expected to ease the burden on families who previously had to transport deceased relatives to distant facilities for preservation.
In addition to mining support, the company has over the years rolled out several corporate social responsibility initiatives, including the construction of school infrastructure, road rehabilitation, food aid distribution, and the installation of a water reticulation system for Shurugwi Town Council.
Chengxi also financed the construction of a new water reservoir, improving water supply reliability for residents.
Local legislator Joseph Mpasi, who has worked closely with the company on community projects, praised Chengxi’s contributions.
“We are grateful for the work that Chengxi is doing in Shurugwi. Their support aligns with the government’s Vision 2030 and the philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind,” said Mpasi.
“I also want to challenge other mining companies to emulate Chengxi’s example and invest in the communities they operate in.”
Mpasi acknowledged other major mining companies such as Unki Mine and Zimasco, as well as smaller firms including Vital, Nichrut, Bungu, and Chris Mahara, for playing a role in local development.
“I am now engaging Chengxi to take up an even bigger responsibility by tarring one of the major rural roads in Shurugwi North,” Mpasi added.
Chengxi Chengetai general manager Simon Karimanzira said the company has made significant strides in driving community development in Shurugwi through a comprehensive corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme anchored on agriculture, education and health.
He said the mining company, which has been operating for just under five years, remains committed to sustainable mining and inclusive community empowerment in line with Vision 2030.
“Our CSR programme is anchored on three main pillars — agriculture, education, and health — but we have also gone out of our way to support small-scale miners, particularly women and youth,” he said.
He added that Chengxi Chengetai Mine believes in striking a balance between mining activities and environmental sustainability, ensuring that development does not come at the expense of ecological preservation.
“As a responsible company, we believe in sustainable mining. We want to create value while protecting the environment and uplifting communities,” Karimanzira said.
He noted that empowering youth and women in small-scale mining not only promotes inclusive growth, but also helps address social challenges such as drug and substance abuse among young people.
“By giving young people opportunities in productive sectors like mining and agriculture, we help steer them away from social ills and toward self-reliance,” he added.
Karimanzira said despite being relatively new in the sector, Chengxi Chengetai Mine has already made a meaningful impact in Shurugwi’s development through its commitment to community welfare and economic empowerment.
“Our philosophy is simple — when communities thrive, we thrive. Chengxi Chengetai has communities at heart, and that’s why our CSR programme is robust and people-centered,” he said.
Residents have expressed gratitude for the infrastructural improvements.
“For years, we suffered without a functioning mortuary. We are happy that this company came in to help. This will bring dignity to our families,” said Tendai Ndlovu, a resident from Makusha.
“The new water reservoir has made a big difference in our lives. We used to go for days without water, but now supplies have improved,” said Rutendo Moyo, a resident from Sebanga.
Chenxi’s investment in local miners is expected to boost production and create more employment opportunities in the district, which has vast mineral resources, but limited mechanisation at the artisanal level.
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