Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Oliver Kazunga

Senior Business Reporter

Kuvimba Mining House (KMH) has turned down a request by villagers in Mberengwa District to cede some lithium claims held by its subsidiary, Sandawanna, and would instead empower them through a Community Share Ownership Scheme.

Late last year, about 5 000 artisanal miners and fortune-seekers – including foreigners–descended on the former emerald mine following the discovery of lithium.

Buyers were reportedly paying US$200 per tonne for raw lithium before the Government imposed a ban on the export of unprocessed lithium to curb artisanal mining.

Communities in Mberengwa, through their chiefs, have been lobbying KMH to cede some of the lithium claims along the Mweza Mountain Range under tributary agreements. The 3 882-hectare concession is also rich in tantalite, mica, and emeralds.

Kuvimba was established in 2020 and is 65 percent owned by the Government with the balance held by private investors

Speaking during a stakeholder engagement forum that was attended by 15 chiefs from Mberengwa District, Government officials and KMH management in Zvishavane on Wednesday, Kuvimba chief executive Mr Simba Chinyemba said and community share ownership scheme meant to empower the villagers would be in place by December.

“The irony of it is that if people (villagers) are given the mining claims, they will (still) require investors to do the mining, yet already ourselves (Sandawana) are the investors.

“So, as an investor, we are able to carry out the mining operations on our own. We can’t say we are mining and decide to give the claims to people to mine again.

“If we do that we would have failed,” said Mr Chinyemba. On that issue, we spoke to our shareholders (and agreed that) we cannot give claims.  However, there is a team investigating the Community Share Ownership Scheme plan that they have. We can do it by the end of December (and) that benefits the community.”

Mr Chinyemba said KMH would continue rolling out developmental projects under its corporate social responsibility initiatives to uplift the lives of ordinary people.

This is in line with the Government’s National Development Strategy 1 whose objective is to propel the country towards an upper middle-income economy by 2030.

Some of the developmental projects that KMH through Sandawana Mines is undertaking include upgrading the existing clinic to a hospital, relocating Sandawana Primary School from the mine, and rehabilitating the road network in the district.

“Part of our objectives at Kuvimba is to do zero harm (on workers), and to develop our human capital; which requires us to have a healthy workforce and community.

“We are going to buy an ambulance and fix the roads,” said Chinyemba. Sandawana also intends to partner with Agritex in livestock production in the near future. At the meeting, the traditional leaders were led by Senator Chief Ngungumbane who sits in the Chiefs Council and is also chairperson of the Midlands Provincial Assembly.

Some of the chiefs that attended the event were Chief Mahlebadza, Chief Bvute, Chief Mposi, Chief Maziofa, Chief Chingoma, Chief Mapiravana, and Chief Mudavanhu.

In his remarks, Sen Chief Ngungumbane applauded the progress Sandawana Mines has made in transforming the communities within Mberengwa District. “You started your mining operations early this year but you have made tremendous progress as far as development is concerned. “We are really excited as traditional leadership for the provision to upgrade the Sandawana clinic to a hospital,” he said.

“It will also be the first time Mberengwa Rural has an ambulance and we are really humbled by your efforts to uplift the living standards of the communities in the district.”

Sandawana started operation as an emerald mine in 1955 and has now been redeveloped as a lithium and tantalite mine KMH took over the asset in 2019. It resumed operations in January this year and employs 1,200 workers. Prior to the acquisition by KMH, the mine had been redundant since 2010 when production was suspended due to working capital constraints and a reduction in emerald resource.

KMH, with several mining assets in gold, platinum, nickel, and chrome has injected US$56 million towards the reviving Sandawana Mines into a world-class lithium operation.

Curtworth Masango and Blessing Malinganiza

TWO DAYS after being granted permission to charge US$5 for the Rest of the Ground for the big Harare derby against CAPS United at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday, Dynamos have reduced the cheapest ticket to US$3 to accommodate concerns by their fans. 

Dynamos chief executive, Jonathan Mashingaidze said they have since decided to give their followers a reprieve. 

“We understand that the majority of our fans deserve a special bonanza in this one after a long time of having football outside the city. 

“So we understand as a club without the fans we are empty and we decided to do that as some say five dollars was much for them and we understand that so we thought it wise to review the price,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Dynamos coach Genesis Mangombe said the Harare derby is the best chance for the people of Harare who have not witnessed the team in Harare after a number of technical changes. 

“It is a big game for us, also the people in Harare have been waiting to see the changes in the team and the type of football we are playing. 

“We will do our best to make sure that everyone is happy with the type of play we have introduced. 

“We have been doing well in Bulawayo and we want to thank the fans who have been doing well in supporting us through thick and thin. 

“We need to have character as everyone will be waiting for this game. Everyone will be under pressure and we will try to minimise our errors as a silly mistake might see you being punished. So we need maximum concentration so that we don’t concede silly games. 

“There are 18 teams in the premier league and every team is capable of doing harm. 

“We lost to Bulawayo Chiefs recently and you can win against CAPS United and go on to lose to Cranborne. It’s a premier league you can’t predict but take every game as it comes. 

Dynamos will be without the services of striker Elton Chikona who is bound to travel to Spain for trials on Saturday.

Chikona said he is happy with the chance that has come his way and believes he will work hard to achieve to embrace his chance. 

The teenage sensation is also grateful to the help he has received from his seniors at Dynamos. 

“I am happy with the way the seniors here help me in pushing hard. When I go there I think it’s a chance to open for more juniors and other players to also go out there. 

“I am excited to go to places that I have only seen on TV. I only knew about this development last month after certain agents were following me. As players it’s our dream to go there and make it and I hope it opens up chances for other players.”

Dynamos striker backed Chikona to make it during his trial tenure in Spain as he believes that he has all the potential.

“The first time I saw Elton training I told myself that he is going to be a big striker for the country and club as he has potential. 

“He is playing well and I am happy for him. At training, I am also trying to help him with what I know and I think he will go and do well.”

Business Reporter

BETA Holdings (BETA), the diversified producer of construction inputs, has admitted that it is in severe distress partly due to prevailing liquidity challenges at a time when its budgets are under pressure from ongoing expansion projects

In a media statement, BETA said it was working on resolving the challenges while assuring stakeholders the completion of the expansion projects would help lift the company out of the distress. BETA is among the country’s largest brick moulders.

It is also involved in quarry stone crushing and the manufacturing of concrete roofing tiles.

Over the past few years, the firm has been failing to meet its delivery schedule commitments, with some customers having to wait for months before receiving their orders.

BETA has also been failing to pay workers and transporters it has contracted on time.

“BETA management acknowledges the operational challenges that the organization has faced over the last few months,” read part of the statement. “The current macroeconomic and liquidity challenges have not spared the company. These challenges come at a time when the organization is, however, in the process of increasing its capacity to address the underlying supply challenges it has faced over the last few years, especially at BETA Bricks,” the company added. BETA is building a brick plant in Melfort, about 40km east of Harare “and is now 85 percent complete with all components now in situ and only electrical works are outstanding,” it said. The target date for commissioning the factory, with an annual production capacity of up to 180 million bricks per year is the end of November this year.

BETA has also installed a new brick in Mount Hampden where it already operates two factories.

The new line will see output increasing by 50 percent to 4,5 million units per week.

“The net effect of these investments is to ensure that the company pivots back to its leadership position in the infrastructural inputs supply sector now and into the future,” said BETA.

On employee salaries, it said the resources have been “stretched” by ongoing projects.

“The challenges currently being faced by the group, coupled with the diversion of resources to fund the expansion program have resulted in a delay on payments to some key stakeholders including staff currently employed at Mount Hampden as well as deliveries to our esteemed customers,” said the company. “The current challenges faced by the organization are unprecedented and have understandably caused some anxiety amongst the employees. The management team has regularly been updating the employees through the Workers Council Committee on the challenges and strategies being pursued to address the situation.”

BETA has assured employees that it had sourced raw materials to enable the kick-starting of a sustainable production process, which should see capacity improving at the Mount Hampden factories while works and the Melfort plant were completed.

“Management is fully confident that as the production levels improve, so will the cash inflows that will address all the legacy creditors, backlogged deliveries, and staff remuneration.

“It is against this background that BETA wishes to inform its stakeholders that efforts are being made to resolve the current impasse with the employees at Mt Hampden who have taken industrial action at the factories citing the backlog on wages.”

Hatred Zenenga in NEW YORK, US 

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has condemned the double standards of some powerful nations that preach peace, human rights, good governance and democracy during the day but clandestinely sponsor conflicts and unconstitutional changes of Government under the cover of darkness for selfish interests.

In his address to the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States yesterday, President Mnangagwa told the world how Zimbabwe peacefully held its elections and produced an outcome that reflects the will of the people.

The general debate is being held under the theme, “Rebuilding Trust and Reigniting Global Solidarity: Accelerating Action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards Peace, Prosperity, Progress, and Sustainability for all”.

 “Zimbabwe continues to entrench democracy, constitutionalism, good governance, and the rule of law, following the recently held 2023 Harmonised General Elections. 

“I am pleased to highlight that our country enjoyed peace, before, during and after our free, fair, transparent and credible elections,” the President said. 

During the recently held harmonised elections, President Mnangagwa and his party Zanu PF won by a landslide. However, some Western countries produced adverse post-election reports as the results did not go in favour of their preferred candidates.

In his remarks at UNGA, the President slammed such conduct from some powerful states as that is a threat to multilateralism and the Charter of the United Nations.

President Mnangagwa and First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa arrive at the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York, US yesterday.  – Picture: Presidential photographer John Manzongo

“We strongly condemn tendencies by some powerful countries who preach peace, human rights and democracy and yet clandestinely fund conflicts and the unconstitutional changes of governments, for their own narrow interests. 

“We, further, condemn the use of unilateral and illegal sanctions as a foreign policy tool at the disposal of some powerful nations, such as those sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe and countries like Cuba. Such actions hamper the trust, global solidarity and multilateralism we desire. It is important that we channel our collective efforts towards building peace and driving forward our development agenda, for shared prosperity. There is much more that unites us, than that which divides us.”

The country has been under crippling economic sanctions that were imposed by the Western world as chastisement for the land reform programme that redressed colonial land imbalances.

“Zimbabwe has been under the illegal, unilateral economic sanctions for 23 years, imposed by some Western countries. These sanctions were designed to subjugate the sovereign will of the Zimbabwean people. We, therefore, demand that the unjustified unilateral sanctions be unconditionally lifted, including those imposed on countries like Cuba. We remain grateful for the support and solidarity of progressive countries in the comity of nations,” President Mnangagwa said. 

For the inclusive development of the world, he said, it is imperative to recommit to the “United Nations Charter, multilateralism, solidarity, justice and the peaceful settlement of disputes for sustainable development and a shared future”.

“This calls on us all to respect the sovereign equality of nations, big or small, poor or rich. By working together, we can harness our expertise and learn from one another to strengthen international institutions for the accelerated attainment of Agenda 2030. The impact of conflicts, terrorism, climate change-induced natural disasters, biodiversity loss, and the rising prevalence of disease and pandemics, especially in the developing world, deserve our urgent attention. 

“Regrettably, progress towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals has been uneven, while global solidarity has been tested and self-interest superseded co-operation. We have a duty to reignite our commitment to the principles of the 2030 Agenda and rekindle the spirit of multilateralism.” 

Sanctions aside, the President told the global interactive Indaba that Zimbabwe has made huge strides in the economic empowerment and emancipation of its citizens, achieving sustained economic growth, the highest in the region, and also food security both at household and national levels.

“In spite of these debilitating sanctions, the people of Zimbabwe have become masters of their own destiny. This is anchored on a philosophy that as a people, we have the duty and responsibility of developing our country, using our own domestic resources. Partners and investors are welcome, guided by our own vision and national priority areas. 

“We are recording unprecedented development and economic success milestones. For the last three years, our country has been the fastest-growing economy in our Southern African region. 

“Further, Zimbabwe is prioritising the eradication of poverty and improving the quality of life of our people, particularly, those in rural areas. The empowerment and capacitation of communal and small-scale farmers have seen us realise food and nutrition security at both household and national level. With effect from this year, our country will become a net exporter of wheat,” he added. 

To accelerate action on the SDGs, President Mnangagwa said the world must scale up investments in people and communities by ensuring access to quality education, healthcare, clean water and sanitation for all. 

He said the creation of economic opportunities, decent jobs and entrepreneurship, especially among women and the youth, must remain a priority for the world to achieve Agenda 2030.  

For sustainable development to take place, the President added that there is a need to reform global financial institutions to unlock funding for developing countries.       

“The current exclusionary architecture, dominated by a few States, is failing to deliver the requisite resources for countries to finance their developmental priorities and other pressing health and environmental challenges. The shortcomings in the last round of SDR allocations, should be addressed.

“Zimbabwe supports the Stimulus Package proposed by the United Nations Secretary-General. We further call for the long-term concessional loans, increased access to unused Special Drawing Rights, as well as the use of modalities such as debt cancellation and restructuring as stimulus for developing countries to grow their economies and build greater resilience.” 

He also reiterated his call for the establishment of a fair and inclusive global security architecture saying the maintenance of peace and security should never be the preserve of a privileged few.

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, sikhumbuzo.moyo@chronicle.co.zw 

HIGHER   and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira has said despite being rich in terms of human capital, Africa for too long, has been a victim of psychological brainwashing by Western countries that stifled its development and intellectual growth.

Speaking during the 65th Hillside Teachers’ College graduation ceremony in Bulawayo yesterday, Prof Murwira said the time has come for Africa to rise to the occasion and shame its detractors who have been pushing a false narrative purporting that the continent is underdeveloped intellectually.

The ceremony was held under the theme, “Transformative teacher education for accelerated innovation and industrialisation,” which is in sync with the expected outcomes of Heritage Based Education 5.0, a key driver towards Vision 2030. 

Heritage-based Education has five components, namely teaching, research, community service, innovation and industrialisation. This is meant to move the nation forward towards an innovation-led and knowledge-based economy. 

The activities are guided by priority programmes on innovation, science and technology development; and human capital development that produces goods and services.

“After 600 years you have constantly been told that  you  lack something and you end up imagining that indeed you lack something and that you are a problem. Africa lacks nothing, it was just attacked psychologically and it’s time to undo that harm,” said Prof Murwira.

 He said President Mnangagwa had transformed the trajectory of Zimbabwe’s education from an education of literacy to an education of literacy and action.

Prof Murwira said the thrust of the Second Republic is to deliver Heritage Based Education 5.0 that focuses on developing graduates with the right knowledge, skills and attitudes and creating leaders who will take the nation to the highest level of development.

He said Government will also provide the necessary legal and financial support to enable the graduates to develop businesses and in the process create employment for themselves and others.

“The Second Republic is determined to make Zimbabwe a startup nation. Industries and businesses do not fall from the sky, they are created by people, particularly graduates,” said Prof Murwira.

“In our new thrust on education, we are focusing on producing the capabilities for catapulting Zimbabwe to an upper middle-income economy by the year 2030. Zimbabwe shall be built by doers and not by people who just talk and do nothing.”

Prof Murwira implored graduates to desist from the colonial mentality of relying on employment.

“We would like to see graduates being helped to form startup companies, let us get rid of the colonial mentality where we were designed to work for someone else,” said Prof Murwira.

He said the Second Republic has provided an opportunity for university and college graduates to start new industries and companies through the Graduate Employment Creation and Development Programme. 

Through the programme, graduates form start-up companies that include private schools. 

“Government will then provide the necessary financial support, a set-up that resonates well with the mantra ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo/nyika inovakwa nevene vayo,” said Prof Murwira.

The country has already started to reap the benefits of Heritage-Based Education 5.0 with innovations established by State Universities helping the country to save US$12 million in imports. 

Innovation Hub infrastructure has been successfully constructed at five State Universities. Under the programme a modern bus terminus was constructed at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), the construction of the Simon Mazorodze Medical School was completed as well as the construction and equipping of the Midlands State University National Pathology Research and Diagnostics Centre. 

Under the number plates production programme, a number plate manufacturing plant called TransTech Solutions was established at the UZ thereby internalising the production of number plates. 

Hillside Teachers’ College has already embraced the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 model with former students forming a consortium to establish a school which has since commenced classes with two form-one classes with an  enrolment of 56 learners. 

Lessons for the learners are being conducted at the college’s premises in Bulawayo. The college has since acquired 24 hectares of land in Matobo District to construct the secondary boarding school.

Hillside Teachers’ College’s move is part of a broader deliberate Government programme of having universities and colleges opening up their own schools to help ease pressure on existing schools. 

A total of 299 students graduated with diplomas in education yesterday. Of the total number of 225 were females.

Hillside  College  was established in 1956 at Heany Junction and moved to its present site in 1962. At its inception, the college trained teachers for both primary and secondary school but is now training secondary school teachers only.