PGM miner Unki says the mining sector will have an important role to play in the country’s economic recovery in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic which has seen many businesses grind to a halt.
Speaking recently Unki mine Chairman James Maphosa commended the government for allowing miners to work in the lockdown period, a move which has seen employees getting salaries and companies contributing to the covid-19 fight.
Mr maphosa also said the platinum miner is confident it is in a position to combat and reduce the spread of the pandemic which has killed more than 150 people in the country.
Last October, President Emmerson Mnangagwa launched a strategic roadmap to the achievement of a US$12 billion mining industry by 2023, as the Government ramps up efforts to increase the sector’s contribution to the economy by facilitating the exploitation of minerals throughout the entire value chain, with certain targets per mineral.
On the platinum industry, Minister of Mines and Mining Development Winston Chitando said the sector was expected to contribute US$3 billion towards the US$12 billion target by 2023 centred on the expansion of projects undertaken by Unki, Zimplats Holdings Limited (Zimplats), and Mimosa platinum mines as well as new players in the sector.
The lockdown has not only deprived Zimbabwe of potential trading partners but also impacted negatively on the country’s mineral production.
