Brenna Matendere
CHINESE investor, Yahua Group, which is mining lithium Kamativi community of Hwange District in Matabeleland North province, has revitalized the remote area which had been dormant for over 30 years.
To date the firm has channelled more than US$2 million towards various community development projects with positive impact on ordinary people’s lives.
President Mnangagwa officially commissioned the repurposed Kamativi Mining Company (KMC)’s Phase One Lithium Processing Plant while construction of the second plant was underway.
Th e company is now galvanizing production levels to rise to 2,3 million tonnes of raw ore and 300 000 tonnes of lithium concentrate per annum
In a statement, the company said it is edging ahead with Community Social Responsibility.
“With the restart of the Kamativi amining in September 2022, KMC has revitalized this community that had been dormant for nearly 30 years. By creating more than 300 jobs directly and more than 1,000 jobs indirectly through contractors, KMC has made an important contribution to local economic development.
“The company has been active in assuming social responsibility, with a total investment of approximately US$2.2 million, focusing on improving the community’s infrastructure, including roads, water supply, electricity supply, etc., and repairing community schools, hospitals, churches, bus stops, street lights and other public facilities.
“These investments have not only improved the quality of life of residents, but also laid a solid foundation for the long-term development of the community,” reads the statement.
KMC’s investment has excited traditional leaders in the district and the local community who are already feeling its impact.
KMC started operations in 2019 with construction for Phase One of the project commencing in March 2023 focused on lithium exploration, mining and processing within Kamativi, a former tin mine that closed in 1994 when international prices of tin plummeted to unsustainable levels.
At that time more than 3 000 people were employed by the mine, which still had a 40- year lifespan.
KMC expects in the long run to invest a total of US$249 million with US$100 million already injected into the first phase.
For three decades, Kamativi turned into a ghost town and infrastructure that included roads, buildings, water and power facilities were vandalised.
However, in his remarks during the commissioning of the plant, the Yahua Group president, Meng, said the revival of Kamativi Mine was a grand moment for communities that had been isolated for almost 30 years.
He said so far significant resources have been invested in community projects while millions more have been paid in taxes.
“We take corporate social responsibility seriously and we have so far invested US$2 million in various community projects and these include rehabilitation of roads, resuscitation of electricity and water supplies and assisting local schools and clinics,” said Meng.
“KMC has contributed significantly to Zimbabwe’s fiscus as it has paid more than US$8 million in taxes and after the completion of Phase Two, this project will create more jobs and pay more in taxes.”
Meng said the company’s CSR efforts are meant to instill confidence and have a community buy-in so that the community shares the company’s vision.
The company is employing 300 people directly and approximately 1 000 others indirectly through subcontracts.
During the resuscitation and development of Kamativi Mine, Meng said there has been a remarkable seamless integration between stakeholders from China and Zimbabwe thereby overcoming a myriad of challenges.
He thanked the support from all stakeholders that enabled the company to complete and commission the project.
Meng said Yahua Group has always embraced the ethos of sustainable development hence it takes seriously issues to do with environmental conservation including efficient water-saving technologies.
KMC is a Joint Venture company operated and controlled by Sichuan PD Technology Group, a subsidiary of the Chinese-listed entity Yahua Group and a local partner, Defold Mine (Private) Limited.
The group is resuscitating Kamativi Mine, which closed in 1994 and for three decades Kamativi had become a ghost town.
Meng said the cordial relations between China and Zimbabwe, which date back to the pre-independence times, remain anchored in the operation principle of consultation, collaboration, construction, shared prosperity and win-win co-operation.
As such, Meng said his investment group was committed to contribute more towards Zimbabwe’s socio-economic development to ensure Government achieves Vision 2030 of an empowered upper middle-income economy.
He said the Group also believes that its confidence in the Zimbabwean economy will also attract other investors.
