‘Call to Action’ spurs improved service delivery
Ms Mazibuko said the strategy is to develop these women so that they graduate into large-scale operators.
“Now that we have opened a Mat South chapter, I want as many women as possible from this area to attend this year’s conference. I come from Filabusi and I have mobilised some women from there as well,” she said.
The co-founder of Esteemed Businesswomen Matabeleland South chapter, Ms Siphiwe Mabhena, said their strategy is to move across various districts and have as many women participating.
She said they will hold meetings even in remote parts of the province.
Ms Ntombiyothando Ncube who is also a co-founder of the Mat South chapter said there is need for women in rural areas to be capacitated to build business empires.
EBZ is already making preparations to host its inaugural conference in Bulawayo in April, which is expected to equip women with vital entrepreneurial skills and create an interactive network platform for women to professionally expand their various ventures.
Policymakers, business leaders, regulatory authorities and representatives from the creative sector are expected to attend and share their insights with participants.
A TOTAL of 300 workers mainly locals have been employed at the newly-established Gwanda Lithium Mine Zimbabwe at Mandihongola area in Matabeleland South province, in yet another milestone investment under the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa.
More job prospects are expected as the project expands with higher value earnings through downstream value addition and beneficiation, which would impact positively on the Government’s drive to achieve a US$12 billion mining industry.
The new mining venture is a subsidiary of Chinese global investor Tsingshan Holdings Limited Groups, which also is setting up the giant US$1,5 billion Dinson Iron and Steel plant in Mvuma, Midlands province and two other subsidiaries including Dinson Colliery in Hwange, Matabeleland North province and Afrochine Smelting in Selous near Chegutu, Mashonaland West province.
Dinson had earlier expressed interest in setting up a lithium battery manufacturing plant and later secured lithium mining claims in Gwanda where it expects to produce millions of tonnes of lithium concentrate annually to support the high-value battery project.
The company signed a memorandum of understanding with Government to pave the way for the project in November 2022 and expects to kick-start production in April.
Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Dr Evelyn Ndlovu, recently conducted a tour of the giant mining plant, which is undergoing lithium processing trial runs.
Officials on site said the construction of the processing plant commenced in December 2022 and ended in December 2023 at a cost of US$54 million under the first phase of the project.
Once production commences, the mine is
BEITBRIDGE Rural District Council has pledged to improve service delivery and steer robust development in line with the recently launched “A call to action” concept.
President Mnangagwa launched the local authorities’ blueprint on service delivery in November last year, which is expected to drive towards the attainment of Vision 2030.
Launching the blueprint, President Mnangagwa said while an upper middle-income economy is defined by the income per capita, the quality-of-service provision by local authorities should be in line with a standard upper middle income economy.
The blueprint presents various areas of concern expected to record a capacity of one million tonnes of ore and 200 000 tons of lithium concentrate annually.
Briefing Dr Ndlovu, Gwanda Lithium Mine public relations manager Mr Nickson Kutsaranga said the mining company wants to be a major economic player to contribute more to the National Development Strategy (NDS1).
“From December 2022 to December 2023 we were concentrating on infrastructure development, that is, construction of the lithium processing plant.
“We have managed to put up an 80km Zesa powerline from Gwanda to the mine, which has a capacity of 88kv,” he said.
“For now we are conducting trial runs for such as revenue collection and distribution, compliance with applicable laws, leasing and selling of land by local authorities in servitudes, leasing and selling of communal and agricultural land by local authorities, as well as valuation of properties for rating purposes.
The blueprint also seeks to modernise and renew local authorities through a two-fold approach. In an interview, Beitbridge RDC chief executive officer, Mr Peter Moyo, said they have met with their staff members, councillors and local stakeholders to unpack the plan of action.
“As a follow up to a ‘Call of Action’ by the Head of State, it’s no longer business as usual at our council,” he said.
“We have since sat down with our staff, our processing and we will start full producing after March. Once production has commenced, we are targeting an output of 3 000 tonnes (ore) per day.
“We have already employed about 300 people from the local community, and 80 percent of the workers we have at the mine are from the local community as we wanted the community to benefit from this project,” said Mr Kutsaranga.
He said the community has also benefited from road maintenance works that have taken place in the area with the project also creating a market for different product suppliers.
A facility has been established where locals supply farming produce to the mine. councillors and line stakeholders to re-affirm our commitment to deliver people-centred services delivery.
“So, this year our major focus will be on road construction and maintenance, construction of new schools and new clinics to address service delivery challenges.”
Mr Moyo said they have sensitised their staff from top to bottom on the need to focus on positive results. He acknowledged that most roads were now in bad condition and that they had engaged other road authorities on the need to attend to the situation.
“We are engaging other road authorities in our area to ensure that we move with one vision. It can no longer be business as usual,” said Mr Moyo. “We have also told our heads
Speaking after a tour of the mine, Dr Ndlovu commended the Chinese company for bringing the much needed development in the community and urged the business to maintain environmentally friendly operations.
“The purpose of my visit here today was to familiarise myself with operations at this mine and check on progress,” she said.
“It’s pleasing to note that there is great progress here and production is expected to start soon. Our friendship with China dates back to the liberation struggle period. It’s pleasing to see that this partnership continues to bear fruits.
“China helped us to fight the political war and today they are assisting us in fighting the economic war. Remember that we are under illegal sanctions and without friends like these we can’t have such development,” said Dr Ndlovu. “I’m impressed by the company’s approach of leaving no one behind as seen through their employment pattern.”
The minister also encouraged the mine to consider offering internships to students from nearby tertiary institutions.
She commended the employment of youths as a key factor in curbing the mass exodus of people to neighbouring countries while applauding extension of community development projects.
Traditional leaders from the area also commended the Government through its partnership with China for bringing about the much needed development in the community.
“This is one of the biggest developments, which we have seen here in our area. We are grateful for this development that has brought significant improvement to the lives of many people.
“It’s pleasing to see such a big company establishing its business here. We would like to thank Government for making this development possible through its partnership with China,” said Gobatema village head, Mr Benjamin Nyathi. of departments and general staff members that we need to work as a team to achieve our targets.” Mr Moyo said the council was now working round the clock to complete the construction works at Mazunga Clinic in Ward 14 some 60km along the Beitbridge-Bulawayo Highway and Dumba Clinic in Ward Two.
He said they intend to open Mazunga Clinic to the public in June this year to reduce the walking distance of most community members in the resettlement area under Ward 14.
Dumba Clinic is set for opening in May and workers were now finishing up ancillary works on the project built using devolution funds with the help of the community and Beitbridge East legislator Cde Albert Nguluvhe.