Christopher Makaza
Banket Hospital in Mashonaland West Province yesterday received two brand new Land Cruiser Ambulances courtesy of the proceeds from government initiated Zimplats-Mhondoro-Ngezi, Chegutu, Zvimba Community Share Ownership Trust (CSOT).
A radiology building was also refurbished and x-ray equipment was procured by the CSOT and handed over to the Hospital by Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs Minister, Mary Mliswa.
During the hand-over ceremony, Minister Mliswa thanked the CSOT for the gesture, urging workers at the institution to take good care of the donated equipment and vehicles. The Minister said the equipment was not going to benefit the Zvimba community only but Zimbabwe as a whole.
Since the adoption of the indigenisation and economic empowerment policy by the Zimbabwean Government ten years ago, a number of communities have benefitted from the programme. This has helped them to alleviate the economic challenges, which were brought by the illegal sanctions imposed on the country by the West.
As part of the policy, foreign mining companies are expected to cede 10 percent of their shares to the communities and fund community share ownership schemes so that communities can benefit from the resources in their areas. Over the years, a number of communities near mining areas have benefitted significantly from the policy.
The communities surrounding the Zimplats Platinum Mine in Selous namely Mhondoro, Ngezi, Chegutu and Zvimba in Mashonaland West Province formed the Mhondoro-Ngezi-Chegutu-Zvimba Community Share Ownership Trust (CSOT) which the South African platinum company funded to the tune of US$10 million to operationalise it. Additionally, the company completed the process of transferring a 10 percent stake worth US$95 million to the CSOT.
In Matabeleland South Province, the Gwanda CSOT, which was funded jointly by Blanket Mine, Gaths Mine and Pretoria Portland Cement to the tune of US$6.8 million has also significantly transformed people of the community through various development projects.
The Anglo American Platinum-owned Unki Mine in the Shurugwi area of the Midlands Province also funded the Tongogara CSOT to the tune of US$10 million, US$600 000 of which was shared by 24 wards in the community for various projects.
