Category: zimbabwe

Nqobile Bhebhe in Fort Rixon-Bulawayo Bureau

THE process of relocating families situated within the Premier African Minerals multi-million-dollar lithium project zone in Fort Rixon, Insiza District, has started with Government officials already on site surveying the area.

A total of 17 officials from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development have been deployed on site for 10 days to ensure smooth implementation of the process, paving the way for the commencement of production.

The initial phase will see the relocation of 26 families, starting with five priority homesteads, which are situated close to the blast pits.

As the project readies for take-off, Premier African Minerals officials yesterday expressed commitment to ensure improved livelihoods of villages by constructing key infrastructure such as schools, drilling boreholes, paving access roads, constructing dip tanks and paying school fees for vulnerable children. 

Chronicle Business understands that three-roomed houses will be constructed for relocated families.

In an interview, site manager, Mr Jabulani Chirasha, said working with the local leadership, families to be relocated would be resettled in descent areas.

Satisfied with progress in the plant assembling process, he said several meetings with affected families and Government departments have been held and there is mutual cooperation from all parties.

“We are doing relocation in priorities in terms of who is nearer to the mining area. At the moment there are five critical villagers whom we need to move. We are moving 26 households in priorities,” said Mr Chirasha.

“We have households that are critical and need to be relocated urgently because they are nearer the mining area so that we can start blasting.

“The Ministry of Lands people are here and there are 17 of them. They will do the pegging where the villagers will be relocated to.

“Once they finish, relocations will start. We are going to drill boreholes, access roads, and everything, which the villagers will need to live in a dignified manner.”

In line with Government expectations and the need to ensure locals benefit more from natural resources within their community, Mr Chirasha said the mining firm is committed to improving the lives of ordinary people.

“We have told ourselves that their lives must improve from where they were. Of the five families to be relocated, three of them are already working here. They are happy to move,” he said.

“We are totally committed to ensure that the living standards of everyone around us is going to be far much better than what they were. (Mr) George Roach, our chief executive officer, is very committed to make sure their lives is much better.”

A massive dam is under construction and its surplus water is earmarked for an irrigation scheme, which will contribute to food security in the area.

“We’ve done a lot of research as we want to set up an irrigation scheme for them and we will hire an Agritex officer to make sure higher production is achieved than what they were producing.”

One of the affected villagers, Mr Thabani Nyathi of Pioneer Village 2, said he was happy with relocation arrangements.

“We’ve held meetings with the Ministry of Lands officials, Environment Management Agency (EMA), councillors and the district administrator explaining the situation.

“A new place has been identified for us. Premier African Minerals people have promised to build houses for us comprising a kitchen, toilets and a three-roomed house,” he said.

“They pledged to assist us with farming, supply us with one tonne of maize monthly allowances till the end of the year.

“Children of school-going age would also be assisted until they reach 21 years.

“Personally, I’m happy with the pledges made, we cannot block development in our area. Most of us are struggling to pay schools fees for our children and this is a huge relief for us.”

The multi-commodity firm is developing a high-impact Zulu Lithium Project in Fort Rixon where it is targeting production within this quarter.

The lithium project is generally regarded as potentially the largest undeveloped lithium-bearing pegmatite in Zimbabwe, covering a surface of about 3,5 square kilometres, which are prospectively for lithium and tantalum mineralisation.

Multiple civil support construction both at the plant site and the main masonry arch dam is progressing well and remains on target to produce spodumene in the first quarter of this year.

Lithium is a mineral used in the manufacture of batteries and its demand has risen sharply because of the demand for electric cars, especially in developed countries that are forging ahead with plans to phase out fossil fuels such as petrol and diesel in the next coming years.

Early this year, the chairman of Suzhou TA&A, Mr Pei Zenzhue, who injected US$35 million in pre-funding to enable the construction and commissioning of a large-scale pilot plant at the project, had his first visit to the site and expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far.

Suzhou TA&A Ultra Clean Technology company, a China-based company principally engaged in the research, development, production, and sale of anti-static ultra-clean products is provided the funding.

Zimbabwe is envisioning a US$12 billion mining industry by 2023, which is a key enabler of Vision 2030 of achieving an upper-middle-in-come economy by 2030.

Of the US$12 billion, gold, platinum and diamonds will contribute US$4 billion, US$3 billion, and US$1 billion respectively.

Other minerals such as chrome, iron ore and carbon steel will contribute US$1 billion while coal and hydrocarbons will do the same.

Given its strategic role within the global economy, lithium is expected to contribute US$500 000 while other minerals will add US$1,5 billion.

Lithium has already proved its position as a strategic mineral given its role in the storage, use and transfer of energy, which has touched the globe through the use of smartphones for global communication, laptops, electric grid stability and storage to power homes, and electric vehicles.

President Mnangagwa has said it is imperative for the country to move beyond banning export of lithium and other ores and focus on research and development towards transforming ores into domestic semi and finished products.

The country holds some of the world’s largest reserves of hard rock lithium, a vital mineral in the production of clean energy technologies.

Lithium deposits have been identified in Mashonaland East, Masvingo, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Matabeleland North, and Matabeleland South provinces with more deposits likely to be discovered.

Lithium is a strategic mineral that holds the key to the global transition to clean energy with many countries already moving towards its use in anticipation of the move to electric vehicles

Kudzanai Sharara in Malabo – Equatorial Guinea

President Mnangagwa has hailed the cordial relations between Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea which he says were cemented when authorities in Harare foiled an attempted coup to topple the Government of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in 2004.

Last night, President Mnangagwa and members of his delegation were treated to a State banquet by host President  Mr Nguema Mbasogo at the People’s Palace, in the capital city – Malabo.

Speaking after the dinner, President Mnangagwa thanked his host for the hospitality, but also took time to highlight the cordial relations that the two countries enjoy, since the time of the late former President of Zimbabwe, the late Cde Robert Mugabe.

He said the sponsored coup d’état attempt in Equatorial Guinea in 2004 and sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe since 2001, remain “a testimony to the machinations of our erstwhile former colonisers to dispose democratically elected governments.”

“It is important that we scale up exchanges and cooperation between our two countries and people around the field of science, technology and innovation,” President Mnangagwa said in reference to Equatorial Guinean students learning at institutions of higher learning in Zimbabwe.

The southern African country looks forward to tap into the vast experience that Equatorial Guinea has in the field of oil.

According to President Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe recently discovered its own gas and oil and hopes to learn from Equatorial Guinea that is already in the business.

According to website worldometers.com Equatorial Guinea produces 244,000.00 barrels per day of oil (as of 2016) ranking 34th in the world.

It produces every year an amount equivalent to 8.1 percent of its total proven reserves (as of 2016).

The West African country holds 1,100,000,000 barrels of proven oil reserves as of 2016, ranking 39th in the world and accounting for about 0.1 percent of the world’s total oil reserves of 1,650,585,140,000 barrels.

“Zimbabwe looks forward to tap into the treasure trove of experience, following recent gas and oil discovery in Muzarabani in the north eastern part of our country, Zimbabwe.”

Although Invictus Energy, the company exploring for gas and oil has not officially announced gas and oil discovery, in its last communication it announced the presence of 13 potential hydrocarbon bearing zones and called Mukuyu-1 and ST1 drill campaign “a great success. ”

“This is an outstanding result and virtually unprecedented for the first well in a frontier basin, establishing a new petroleum province and substantially de-risking the Company’s wider acreage in the Carbora Bassa Basin,” Invictus Energy Managing Director, Scott MacMillian said of the development.

President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe also boast of many other resources including wild animals which he jokingly said Zimbabwe” does not know whom to give”.

He said Zimbabwe is ready to give Equatorial Guinea some of the animals in line with international best practice.

He, however, lambasted European countries, “who have no wildlife of their own” for making the rules which are “unfair” in terms of sustainable wildlife conservation.

He appealed for the support of Equatorial Guinea and other African countries on the issue.

President Mnangagwa said there is scope for the two countries to increase bilateral trade and investments, which he said can be facilitated by officials from both the Zimbabwe private and public sectors who are part of the Zimbabwe delegation.

Private sector delegation included businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei of Sakunda Holdings, Christopher Mugaga of Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce, Allan Majuru, CEO of Zimtrade and businessman George Manyere who was already in Equatorial Guinea.

“Zimbabwe is open for business. I therefore invite Equatorial Guinea investors to come to Zimbabwe and look for investment opportunities on offer.”

Yesterday, Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea signed an agreement for Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments between the two countries.

Today President Mnangagwa is expected to visit places of interest of Malabo City including La Paz Hospital and Punta Europa (oil facilities).

He will then depart from Malabo to the City of Djibloho, for the installation of the Mayor at the Dibhloho Grand Hotel before attending a dinner hosted by the city fathers.

Enacy Mapakame-Business Reporter

EcoCash Holdings Zimbabwe Limited intends to leverage on digital and financial innovations as it seeks opportunities that drive growth and consolidate its market share.

Generally, the economy is embracing digitalisation which was spurred by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The digitalisation drive across the fintech group’s business units also comes at a time the country is looking and narrowing the financial inclusion gap as well as the digital divide.

For EcoCash, providing digital solutions to everyday challenges also helps the group improve its earnings performance despite a challenging business environment.

“While the business environment remains challenging, the group is committed to delivering value to all its stakeholders,” said company secretary Charmaine Daniels in an update for the third quarter to November 30, 2023.

“Through leveraging on digital and financial technologies, we firmly believe we have a big role to play in unlocking opportunities, providing needed digital solutions and thereby improving our financial performance,” she said.

Mrs Daniels added the group would continue refining its products for the various digital platforms and these, she said, were expected to increase their revenue contribution to the group.

“Our digital platforms business, Vaya Technologies continued to focus on and drive the anchor businesses in Healthtech and On Demand Services. We continue to develop and refine our products in these sectors which we believe have yet to fully realise their potential.

“As we progress into the next quarter and year, we believe we will be able to increase contribution from these nascent businesses to the broader EcoCash Holdings Group performance,” she said.

Market watchers also guide the group to benefit from the technology adoption drive especially in the financial services sector and upgrade the counter to a buy recommendation.

“We maintain our long-term buy recommendation,” said research firm Morgan & Co.

“Going forward, we foresee a sustained demand for the group’s services given the rapid technology adoption in Zimbabwe households and an increase in paperless transactions,” said the research firm.

Already, the group’s earnings have been largely driven by its mobile money platform EcoCash and Steward Bank.

Further growth is anticipated from the mobile money, which has now tapped into the foreign currency domestic remittances through the EcoCash FCA wallet.

With the Government reducing the transaction tax (IMTT) on domestic money transfer transactions to 2 percent from 4 percent effective beginning of this year, EcoCash said it is expected to accelerate the adoption of US dollar digital money transfer services.

Already, the mobile money platform has recorded a decline in domestic money transactions as the economy is now largely skewed to US dollar-based transactions.

“As the market has increased usage of the United States Dollar, we have seen a drop in the volume of our local currency mobile money transactions in the period compared to prior year,” said Mrs Daniels.

Yeukai Karengezeka-Court Correspondent

A WOMAN from Chitungwiza has been handed a three-month suspended sentence for aborting twins and burying the remains in the backyard of her home.

Tanyaradzwa Dondo (24) appeared before Chitungwiza magistrate Miss Chiedza Manase charged with concealing the birth of a child. 

She pleaded guilty, was convicted and handed a suspended three months sentence on condition that she does not commit a similar crime within the next five years. On January 24 at around 9am, Dondo told Tendai Chirohuona who lives in the same house with her that she was bleeding. 

Chirohuona noticed that Dondo’s belly was now smaller than what it used to be and asked if she had a miscarriage but she denied this. 

The truth came to light when Chirohuona’s maid, Linet Mazonde, told him that she had seen Dondo digging a hole behind the house on the pretext that she wanted to dispose of her used pads. 

Chirohuona and other tenants dug up the hole and found a black plastic bag with two dead babies. They informed the police leading to her arrest.

A post-mortem was also conducted and Dondo was medically examined.

Thupeyo Muleya-Beitbridge Bureau 

A ZIMBABWEAN truck driver has been arrested in South Africa for illegally transporting chrome ore worth R650 000 into Limpopo province. 

Brighton Mutandani (37) was arrested on Thursday last week by the Hawks. He has since appeared in the Praktiseer Regional Court charged with transporting chrome without a permit and contravening the Immigration Act. 

Hawks spokesperson for Limpopo Captain Matimba Maluleke said they were descending hard on illegal mining in the province. 

“As the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation continues to fight the scourge of illegal mining in the province, a sting joint operation between the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation and Crime Intelligence was conducted on the evening of 2 February 2023,” he said. 

“During the operation, a suspicious tipper truck was spotted driving in the area and it was stopped and searched. 

“The truck was found fully loaded with chrome ore that the driver could not produce a permit for and he was immediately placed under arrest. Further investigations revealed that the driver did not have legal documents to be in the country.” 

Capt Maluleke said the chrome and the truck worth an estimated R650 000 had since been seized. 

He said Mutandani was remanded in custody to 10 February 2023 for formal bail application. 

Hawks provincial head for Limpopo, Major General Gopz Govender, said his team had done well in clamping down on illegal miners. 

“We look forward to conducting more operations to deal with the illegal mining problem and our presence will be felt,” said Maj Gen Govender. 

South African police recently tightened screws on illegal miners following death of eight panners including four Zimbabweans, three Mozambicans and a South African in the Burgersfort area in Limpopo Province. They suffocated when the mine shaft filled up with rain water and collapsed and the police have since opened an inquest docket. 

It is reported that the mishap occurred in the ga-Moroga village where the suspected illegal miners had been digging for chrome ore before the walls of the shaft gave in during heavy rains. The rain water apparently pushed the soil that blocked the only point they were using for entry and exit. As a result, they then suffocated. 

Illegal chrome mining is rife in areas along the R37 road in Sekhukhune District where the police have been arresting many illegal miners and confiscating mining equipment. 

Four Zimbabweans were among 21 suspected illegal miners whose bodies were discovered in a mineshaft in Krugersdorp, Gauteng, South Africa in November last year. They were trapped in the same manner. 

In September 2021, South African emergency workers retrieved 11 bodies of Zimbabweans who died after a generator they were using in a disused underground mine exploded in Benoni, some 35km outside Johannesburg. 

It is understood that the group which included 15 people, among them Zimbabweans and Mozambicans, entered the mine on August 27 of the same year and were using the generator for lighting and drilling. 

The group reportedly died of suffocation while a few who managed to escape made a report to the police. 

The mine is located in the Springs area of Benoni.

Smuggling of chrome ore is also an offence in Zimbabwe