Platinum producer Mimosa has embarked on extension of life of mine for a further 12 years through a construction of a new shaft at North Hill, which is seven kilometres from its current operations at South Hill.
Speaking during the Mining and Agriculture Breakfast interface held yesterday, the mine’s General Manager Steve Ndiyamba said Mimosa is seized with other key projects namely plant optimisation and the construction of a new tailings storage facility.
“To ensure continued benefits for all stakeholders including the community we are making efforts to expand life of mine, ensure responsible waste disposal and optimize mineral recoveries.
“Among the three platinum miners, Mimosa has the smallest resource and due to limited economies of scale emanating from the size of the resource, we can process ore up to concentrate level.
“Engagements are however currently underway for further processing of the concentrate through a third-party smelter that is being developed locally,” he said.
He added that despite the new trajectory, the mine remains focused on interventions that uplift livelihoods in the community through investments in agriculture, education, health, water and sanitation, as well as infrastructure development.
“At Mimosa we have embraced the clarion call by communities to engage in sustainable and transformative interventions that uplift livelihoods.
“To this end we have been implementing four key projects which are livestock revitalisation, Mtshingwe Nursery, small grains growing and local enterprise development.
“We were among the first group of mining companies to partner ZAS and the Department of Veterinary Services at the launch of the Livestock Revitalisation Programme in 2018.
“Through complementary hand overs of high pedigree bulls and heifers, and using artificial insemination to enhance animal genetics, we have recorded modest progress.
“For us the journey has been remarkable. To date we have handed over 524 bulls and 177 heifers to the community. We have also inseminated 768 cows and heifers with 332 calves having been born and many more yet to be dropped.
“Slowly but surely, we are a witnessing a transformation in the cattle herds in Zvishavane,” he said.
According to Ndiyamba, the company has also refurbished dip tanks in every ward and drilled over 70 boreholes to provide clean drinking water for communities and their livestock.
Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Vangelis Haritatos who was the guest of honour commended the agricultural efforts by mining companies saying the Zimbabwean economy will remain firmly tied to mining and agriculture in the foreseeable future.
“Having said this let me note that mining and agriculture in the past have been viewed as strange bedfellows known more for their conflictual relationship than for amicable working relations.
“ Farmers who work on the top part of the soil have haggled with miners who exploit deeper layers of the ground.
“ Relations however took a turn for the better in 2018 when the two sectors forged some partnerships to uplift livelihoods in communities through The Livestock Revitalisation Programme.
“Since then the relationship between the two sectors has been getting better and better.
“Mining companies have now emerged as the biggest investors in agriculture within their sphere of influence. All major mining companies such as Zimplats, Unki, Mimosa and ZCDC have made significant investments in their communities.
“ Miners have also supported sustainable fish farming, poultry, dairy and beef farming and irrigation projects within communities.
“With a booming mining sector government mining is confident of reaching the target of a US$12 billion-dollar revenue by the end of this year,” he said.
The Mining and Agriculture Breakfast Interface was attended by stakeholders from the mining and agriculture value chains and ran under the theme ‘Emerging best practices in mining and agriculture’.
