Story by Wellington Makonese
GOVERNMENT has praised ZIMPLATS for implementing models that support communities and local enterprises to contribute to the national development matrix.
The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Honourable Mangaliso Ndlovu toured ZIMPLATS-financed community projects such as Palmline beef and dairy, youth empowerment projects under the Combined Technical Services and mine support solutions in Ngezi.
He then proceeded to Chegutu where the Sable Estate investment is running the Mhondoro-Ngezi Chegutu Zvimba Community Share Ownership Trust (CSOT) which is benefiting locals through dividends in citrus and poultry, among other projects.
“The trust is benefiting from the dividends coming in around US$300 000 per year that we received last year. It is a profitable business and actually allows the trust to then invest that amount into development. These are the funds we are using to build schools, clinics and social services in the community. This is our biggest investment. We own about 33.3% of what we see in citrus and the chickens. We have invested close to US$1.2 million initially growing to US$10 million,” said Zimplats Mhondoro Ngezi chief executive officer, Mr Wilson Chinzuru.
Traditional leaders who form the core of the trust said the initiative is life-transforming.
CSOT chairperson, Chief Chirau said, “We are working together with chiefs from Mhondoro, Ngezi and Zvimba to see that every household benefits and I’m glad to say the projects such as poultry and horticulture are getting to the bottom. In the large-scale initiatives we have witnessed clinics being constructed.”
The government noted the initiative aligns with the National Development Strategy One.
“The key takeaway is that Community Share Ownership Trust were created to impact communities and come up with solutions that address community challenges, but what we seeing here has gone beyond what we envisaged. I am happy this community share ownership trust has easily aligned itself with Vision 2030.Tthey are currently on 450ha but by 2030 they hope to have reached 1200ha,” said Hon Ndlovu.
The mining firm has been working with surrounding communities and has since overseen more than 30 projects in the areas of water and sanitation, healthcare, education and agriculture
