Staff Reporter
During the official opening of the 25th Edition of the Mining, Engineering and Transport Conference in Bulawayo yesterday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa urged players in the mining industry to improve lives of communities residing within mining entities.
President Mnangagwa said the success of the mining sector should not only be based upon tons, carats and ounces mined, but should also be based upon the improvements in the quality of human lives residing within the mining communities.
He added that the mining industry should engage communities in dialogue so as to forge win-win synergies.
“The success of the mining sector must be contextualised not only by the tons, Carats and ounces mined, but also through the improvements in the quality of our people’s lives, within mining communities. In light of this, the Mining Industry should give due regard to the Environmental, Social and Governance issues. Over and above the routine Corporate Social Responsibility programmes, our people must see tangible life transforming programmes and infrastructure from the presence of mining entities in their communities.
“I further challenge players in the mining sector to dialogue with local communities towards forging win-win synergies and partnerships for optimum benefits within the mining industry. At the local level, the elimination of the negative environmental footprints of mining operations remains imperative,” President Mnangagwa said.
Meanwhile, President Mnangagwa urged the Suppliers Committee to work closely with Government in order to ensure production of quality and competitively priced products in line with Buy Zimbabwe; Made in Zimbabwe and Build Zimbabwe initiative.
His Excellency, President Mnangagwa said, “Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Second Republic is encouraged by the Mining Sector’s target to attain US$12 billion target by 2023. Zimbabwe’s Mining Industry managed to achieve US$5.2 billion last year as compared to US$2.9 billion in 2017, despite the COVID-19-induced pandemic,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Second Republic has been on a drive to achieve a vibrant US$12 billion dollars mining industry by the year 2023. Other mining projects commissioned by President Mnangagwa include the expansion of ZimPlats and Unki Mines; the re-opening of Eureka Gold Mine; Shamva Gold Mine; Rio-Zim Cam and Motor Biox Gold Plant Expansion Project; Radnor Mine; and most recently, the Sinomine Bikita Minerals Lithium project, among others.
