President’s speech brings hope to Mhangura . . . Heed his call, says Shamu

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s inaugural speech has raised hopes among many people here that the decommissioned Mhangura Copper Mine might be reopened.

Mhangura Mine stopped operations in 1999, resulting in a lot of people losing their jobs in the town, whose sole economic activity was copper mining.

Residents and former mine workers here said Zimbabwe’s new political dispensation raised hope for a better Zimbabwe.

President Mnangagwa’s inaugural speech as Head of State and Government at the National Sports Stadium left many in Mhangura hoping that the mine would be revived once again.

He promised to open doors to the international world to improve foreign direct investment inflows.

“We have, however, successfully maintained good relations with the preponderance majority of the family of nations.

“I stand here today to say that our country is ready and willing for ecstatic re-engagements with all the nations of the world,” the President said in his speech.

He also implored the West to remove economic and political sanctions that haunted Mugabe’s regime.

“Whatever misunderstandings may have subsisted in the past, let these make way for a new beginning,” the President said.

It is from the above that the majority of Mhangura residents’ and former mine workers’ hopes have been reignited as they expect the Government to lure interested nations and investors to invest in the copper mine. One former mine worker, Mr Farai Kadzura, expressed optimism for a new dawn in the former copper giant, which shut down opera- THE Rotary Club of Msasa on Monday donated two classroom blocks worth over $30 000 to Three Sisters community near Caesar Mine in Mazowe West constituency.

The donation will result in the reduction of the distance that children were walking to get to other secondary schools in the area.

The school (Zvehoto), which occupies 24 hectares, will start operating in January, VETERAN politician and former Minister of State for Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs Cde Webster Shamu has implored the education sector to work towards the production of wellrounded students, who are competent to provide solutions to 21st century socio-economic challenges.

Speaking at the Mashonaland West Schools Merit Awards at Sinoia Primary School in Chinhoyi on Monday, prior to the dissolution of Cabinet, Cde Shamu said the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education should improve educational facilities and conditions to produce refined students.

The awards ceremony ran under the theme “Rewarding Excellence in the Implementation of the Updated Education Curriculum” and sought to recognise students, teachers and

tions due to low world markets back then.

“Copper is still available in the shafts and other surveyed areas, it was only the markets and mismanagement that led to the closure of the mine.

“The whole world needs copper as it is a good conductor of electricity, thus if the Government, through the leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, considers prioritising Mhangura Mine not only the town will benefit but the whole nation at large,” Kadzura said.

Other residents said they were hopeful of the President’s ability to turn things around based on his successful efforts officials who excelled in sports, arts and academics.

“Accordingly, the theme resonates quite well with the ministry and the Government expectations to produce a well-rounded, multi-skilled educational product, who responds well to the 21st socio-economic dispensation in terms of skills and competency. A school graduate whom we so desire as a nation,” he said.

Cde Shamu said Government expected maximum commitment from teachers and the education directorate.

He commended President Mnangagwa’s inauguration speech before reiterating his call for civil servants to raise the bar in terms of service delivery.

“As Government we expect a high degree of professionalism and commitment from the entire ministry personnel from the classroom teacher to

in overseeing the Command Agriculture programme.

“President Mnangagwa oversaw the running of Command Agriculture programme in the 2016-2017 farming season when he was still the Vice President, the outcome of the scheme serves as an indicator that he is a man aiming at reviving all sectors of economy so that Zimbabwe retains jewel of Africa status once again.

“We have no doubt that he will revive the mining industry,” said one Johanne Mutasa.

While many were optimistic that the mine would be opened, many believed the directorate,” he said.

“In his inaugural speech, His Excellency Cde Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa made it clear that civil servants needed to perform and provide services to the satisfaction of the people. He said it was no longer business as usual.”

Cde Shamu also called on stakeholders to work with Government in establishing proper learning infrastructure for the effective implementation of the new curriculum.

This, he said will help in improving the provincial examination pass rates.

“I would like to urge all stakeholders here present to support, co-operate and participate actively in the ministry’s efforts to establish proper learning infrastructure for effective curriculum implementation.

“Deliberate strategies should be adopted in order to improve provincial examination pass rates,” he said.

that if it was revived, the lives of people in the defunct former mining settlement would improve.

“Majority of the former workers did not get pieces of the land promised as part of retrenchment packages. Less than 200 out of nearly a thousand workers benefited in the land allocation, which means the rest were left with no means of production, thus if the Government considers reopening the mine, many families will benefit,” one former worker added.

“Everyone here has remained optimistic that the mine will open its doors one day just like what happened in Zambia.”