Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Source: Karo project takes shape | Sunday Mail (Business)

Ishemunyoro Chingwere
Business Reporter

Karo Resources, which has established a huge camp at its platinum mining claims in Mhondoro-Ngezi, is still operating within set timelines, which envisage that production will begin next year, a Cabinet Minister has said.

The company signed a US$4,2 billion deal with Government in March last year — four months after the political transition that gave rise to the President Emmerson Mnangagwa-led administration.

At full production, Karo Platinum — which plans to produce more than 1,4 million ounces annually — is  expected to dwarf the combined production of Zimplats, Mimosa and Unki, and employ at least 15 000 people directly.

A further 75 000 workers will benefit indirectly.

Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando told the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) last week that there will soon be a field day at the mining site to apprise stakeholders of the progress recorded thus far.

“Essentially, Karo have been doing what I will term resource-definition work. They (last year) did extensive aeromagnetic surveys of the area,” he said.

“At the moment, they are now quite advanced in terms of resource definition. I visited site about two weeks ago and they have set up a huge camp (on site).

“But the bottom line is Karo is on course to produce from the first pit by the end of 2020, in terms of the original agreement whereby they are four pits which will be opened: one operational by end of 2020, the next by end of 2021, the next by end of 2022 (and the fourth by end of) 2023.

“So that programme is well on course and soon there will be a field day in which stakeholders will be invited to come and see (the progress),” he said.

The significant progress being made by the new entrant in the local mining sector puts paid rumours that Karo would not have the financial wherewithal to undertake the investment.

On November 12 last year, a  high-powered delegation from the mining company — which was led by chairperson Mr Loucas Pouroulis and the group’s financer, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) – paid a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa and gave assurances that the project will proceed as initially scheduled.

AFC, who were represented by their president and chief executive officer Mr Samaila Zubairu, told a news conference after meeting the President that his organisation stands ready to support the project with an initial capital injection of $2 billion. In December last year, the miner conducted extensive aeromagnetic surveys at its claims.

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Source: Arcadia Lithium Project to start June | Sunday Mail (Local News)

Thandiwe Garusa

Construction of the $165 million Arcadia Lithium Mine plant is set to begin within the next three months, it has been learnt.

Government recently granted the mining project special economic zone (SEZ) status, which naturally entitles it to various tax exemptions.

The designation also makes it easier for the junior mining company, which is owned by Australian Stock Exchange (ASX)-listed Prospect Resources, to import raw materials and capital goods.

Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ) executive director Mr Paul Chimbodza said recently construction of the process plant is expected to begin in June this year.

PLZ is a unit of Prospect Resources.

“Conditional to finance, the company expects to commence construction of the process plant in June 2019, with the plant expected to be commissioned in November 2020,” said Mr Chimbodza.

“We are working closely with the Government and the local community to develop positive outcomes for the country and the region.

“So far, we have completed preliminary work on site such as the contractors’ camp and fencing, but the bulk of the construction is expected to follow once the project is fully funded and we are currently in discussions with potential financiers to the project,” he said.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa launched the venture, which has a mine life of 20 years, in Goromonzi last year.

Separately, Prospect Resources executive director Mr Harry Greaves said production was expected to commence in the last quarter of next year.

“Production is expected to ramp up over the first year as the company normalises its operations.

“Prospect Resources is positioned to be the leading producer of lithium in Africa and the largest producer of low-iron petalite concentrate in the world.

“We are focused on empowering the communities in areas we operate and provide up to 700 jobs directly and indirectly.”

Demand for the mineral has been progressively rising owing to growing demand for electronic vehicles, which use lithium-ion batteries.

However, low-iron petalite concentrate is used in the manufacture of glass, ceramic and cookware.

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Source: Govt constructs three new courts | Sunday Mail (Local News)

Sharon Munjenjema

Government has successfully filled 233 vacant posts previously frozen in the Judiciary and reopened 23 courts that had closed due to a critical shortage of magistrates, as it aggressively moves to establish a world-class justice-delivery system.

A moratorium on staff recruitments was lifted last year.

As part of the far-reaching interventions, new courts are presently being constructed in Mt Darwin (Mashonaland Central), Lupane (Matabeleland North) and Chinhoyi (Mashonaland West).

Judicial Services Commission (JSC) secretary Mr Walter Chikwana told The Sunday Mail that commendable progress has been made to strengthen the Judiciary.

“As the Chief Justice (Luke Malaba) has mentioned before, 233 people were recruited. This number included 60 magistrates; (consequently) the courts that had been closed have been reopened.

“We have also started building new courts in Mt Darwin, Lupane and Chinhoyi. In Mt Darwin, we have started; in Chinhoyi, we are at roof level and (in) Lupane, we have started the pre-construction preparations,” he said.

Works at the site in Chinhoyi, which had been lying dormant for years, gained traction recently after additional funds were allocated for the project.

In Lupane, the magistrates’ court was operating from the District Administrator (DA)’s complex, where some Government departments are housed, while in Mount Darwin, judicial staff operated from a dilapidated single courtroom.

Construction of the new courtrooms is expected to be completed by year-end.While officially opening the 2019 legal year, Chief Justice Luke Malaba said a new record may have been broken by JSC, whose ratio of female-to-male employees now stands at 53,6 percent.

Out of the 64 judges in the country, 34 are male while 30 are female.

Of the 249 magistrates stationed at various courts countrywide, 128 are female whilst 121 are male.

Ten magistrates were also promoted to the post of regional magistrate.

Two resident judges were also posted at the Masvingo and Mutare high courts.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa opened the Mutare High Court — the country’s fourth permanent high court — on May 7 last year.

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Source: UN human rights chief commends Zim on reforms | Sunday Mail (Top Stories)

Lincoln Towindo

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights (OHCHR) has commended Government’s drive to entrench human rights and accepted the country’s explanation on the circumstances surrounding the opposition-sponsored post-election violence in August (2018) and January this year.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi met the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet Jeria — the former president of Chile — during the 40th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, recently.

The UN Human Rights Council is set to dispatch special rapporteurs to Zimbabwe on an assessment tour. “She encouraged us to keep promoting human rights and our efforts on social and economic rights. . .

“She also received our report and appreciated what we were saying and she encouraged us to continue, particularly on the path of dialogue that the President initiated. She was very receptive and our issues were well-received by her and she encouraged us to continue in the path we are walking,” he said. Government also managed to apprise the commission on the gratuitous violence rolled out by protesters during the January 14, 15 and 16 demonstrations, which prompted overwhelmed law-enforcement authorities to rope in the military to assist.

The demonstrations, which cost the country more than $500 million in unrealised business and destruction to property, also led to the loss of life.

Worryingly, the protests were reportedly pre-planned by militant elements and coordinated by foreign agents that intended to besmirch the country’s image and reputation. Minister Ziyambi said: “We explained the background to all these events; most importantly, the violence that happened in August as well as in January.

“We specifically brought out how the demonstrators violated the rights of innocent people who were going about their day-to-day business.

“We explained how the voices of the protesters have been magnified, while the voices of the victims of the riots, including shop owners who lost their property and others who lost their relatives, have not been heard.”

African countries, Minister Ziyambi said, rallied around Zimbabwe and called for the unconditional removal of sanctions, which are blighting the country’s economic recovery prospects. “The African group received our report very well to the extent that when Namibia, South Africa and Egypt presented their reports, they also highlighted these points and spoke on our behalf on the need to remove sanctions.

“We also spoke about our economic turnaround programmes, including the Transitional Stabilisation Programme.

“We also highlighted that sanctions were a human rights issue hindering the success of that programme,” he said.

The Zimbabwean delegation also met with International Labour Organisation (ILO) director-general Mr Guy Ryder, who was briefed on circumstances that led to the arrest of Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) president Japhet Moyo.

Government, Minister Ziyambi said, explained to Mr Ryder that it will follow due process as the matter is now before the courts.

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EcoCash, Cassava Smartech Zimbabwe’s mobile money Fintech business, has partnered with Cassava Fintech South Africa to provide an enhanced cross-border money transfer service from South Africa to Zimbabwe. Announcing the launch of the service, Cassava Fintech International Group CEO Darlington Mandivenga said he was confident the service would do very well and meet a growing […]