Beverly Bizeki
Award winning Sinomine at Bikita Minerals has continued to raise the standard of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) with the company picking up on projects started by the previous owner.
The company won two awards in 2022 in Responsible Investment and Social Impact Award both at South East Region and national levels.
Mine Manager David Mwanza confirmed the developments during a media tour held recently and said the company picked up projects that were being done by the previous owner.
“When Sinomine took over in 2022, the company helped in the commissioning of Shumbaimwe Clinic where the company also installed a 12.2 KVA solar system for the clinic,” said Mwanza.
Although the project was spearheaded by Domboshava community led by Chief Marozva in 2016, Bikita Minerals chipped in and donated towards the construction of the clinic until its completion and official opening on March 30, 2022 under the CSR programme.
The clinic which benefits 22 villages has three staff quarters which also benefit from the solar system installed at the clinic and a functioning tap water system from the two tanks installed at a nearby mountain which serves the clinic and a nearby school.
Mwanza said the company provided its workers with construction materials for building their own homes.
“We have been on the record for assisting our employees with quarry stones for construction purposes but have only stopped for a little while for further beneficiation and will resume after processing again,” said Mwanza.
The company is on record for drilling seven boreholes, five for Masvingo West Community and for ward 22 in Bikita.
Finance Manager Amanda Makausi revealed that the company is on record for having US$ 2 million set aside for the corporate social responsibility in the construction of a new 132 KV power line from Tugwi-Mukosi to Bikita Minerals although the project is still at its infancy.
“This year alone, we are going to spend US$ 2 million towards rural electrification of communities surrounding the mine as we are constructing a line (power line) from Tugwi-Mukosi to Bikita Minerals whereby the community will be taken on board and get employed in clearing the route,” said Makausi.
