Chimona Mining Company, has invested US $500 000 in Bubi District, Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe where it has acquired new gold mining rights and will be setting up a processing centre. The venture is expected to create more job opportunities and promote formalisation of artisanal mining activities in Bubi, which is one of the gold rich districts in the country.
According to Matabeleland North proportional representation legislator, Honourable Elizabeth Masuku, Chimona is an established indigenous gold and quarry mining firm and the gold resource in the Bubi community presents a huge opportunity for locals to participate in building the economy towards an upper middle-income status by 2030.
She further called on mining communities to play their role in economic transformation. “It’s my greatest pleasure to grace this familiarisation meeting with Chimona Mining Company, which I am proud of because it is our own Zimbabwean mining company,” she said during the familiarisation tour of the new mine in Inyathi area.
Hon Masuku said Ward 12 communities, where the mine is being situated, should join hands with mining investors in their areas so as to derive maximum benefits such as employment and other downstream enterprise developments. “It’s clear that the company is championing Vision 2030, which was unveiled by our President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, His Excellency Honourable Emmerson Mnangagwa. I foresee huge economic activity around Inyathi,” she added.
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Deriving maximum benefits from the venture
She also added that there is a need to set up horticulture gardens as workers around this place will need vegetables and many agro-foods, retailing, and many other economic activities. “As the company grows, let’s also grow economically. I am well informed that the mining company has pledged to assist women and youths in mining groups around the district with mining equipment. Let’s embrace that and grow ourselves,” she said.
The managing director of Chimona Mining Company, Mr Marufu Sithole, explained the company’s mission and strategic objectives, which he said were anchored on inclusive development. He said while his company began in the Midlands province, they were delighted to spread wings to Matabeleland.
“We are here as Chimona Mining Company to unveil ourselves to you the community around here. We have acquired mining rights and we are a company that believes in Zimbabwe’s economic agendas. We mine in communities and we seek to also empower the very same communities. We will employ the local people, assist syndicates and small-scale miners that may need assistance. We drive to help the mining sector meet its US $12bn target by 2023 and also to raise impetus towards Vision 2030,” he said.
Mr Sithole is the first vice president of the Zimbabwe Miners Federation, an umbrella body for all small-scale miners in the country.
