Tafadzwa Nyikadzino

Mberengwa – The importance of Parliament’s oversight visit to Sandawana Mines was laid bare this week as Mutapa Energy Resources revealed a $43.9 million community and infrastructure package that will be poured towards developing road infrastructure,  schools and modern housing.

The figures were laid bare during a joint media and parliamentary tour of the mine, led by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development.

The visit, at the invitation of the miner, was strategic.

“We have had the Parliamentary Committee on mining. We invited them because we believe they are very important because they are the ones who support us in the legislature when we have key concerns. We wanted them to see the things that we are dealing with, and working on,” said Mutapa Energy Resources Chief Executive Officer Mr Innocent Rukweza.

“We wanted them to give us their input on what we are doing right and wrong.”

Speaking at the mine face, Rukweza said the company is deliberately front-loading social infrastructure before full ramp-up of the concentrator.

“We have relocated close to 28 families and exhumed 69 graves. We are very committed to community projects. Those families who are relocating we will make sure that they have access to water. We will also relocate the local primary school to a new site by January next year. We will also construct a state of the art clinic in the community,” he said.

Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development, Honourable Remigio Matangira, said the familiarisation tour was critical for legislative oversight.

“Visiting this place on invitation is very normal for familiarisation of their mining processes. I appreciated their ongoing process of relocating villagers who will be affected by the mining processes to a safer location. As Parliament, we expect the mine to conduct the process, ensuring that villagers are compensated for the sentimental value of their properties lost,” said Hon Matangira.