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Kuvimba Mining House-owned Shamva Mine’s work in uplifting its host community continues to resonate across Mashonaland Central, with government, local authorities, and legislators all uniting in praise of the mine’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) footprint, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
Speaking at the recent Chaminuka Rural District Council Service Delivery Equipment Commissioning Ceremony, officials spoke passionately about the mining giant’s contribution to critical infrastructure and social services, saying its example sets a new standard for community development in Zimbabwe’s mining districts.
The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon. Christopher Magomo, was among the first to acknowledge the mine’s role in transforming Shamva District. In his address, he called on other corporates to emulate Shamva’s deliberate efforts in supporting local development.
“I call upon other companies to emulate Shamva Gold Mine’s example,” he said. “By combining internal revenue mobilisation, government support, and corporate investment, Chaminuka RDC is setting a high standard for inclusive and sustainable local development. Let me also commend the hardworking spirit of Shamva leadership.”
That leadership has been tested and proven through genuine partnerships on the ground. The Chairperson of Chaminuka Rural District Council, Mr. S. Matibairakupusa, singled out the Wadzanai Township sewer rehabilitation project as a tangible marker of Shamva Mine’s commitment. With visible pride, he detailed the progress made so far.
“Through our strategic partnership with Shamva Gold Mine, we have managed to trench up to 85% of the 620 metres required, and already 365 metres of piping has been laid,” he said. “This progress, which now stands at 48%, would not have been possible without Shamva’s contribution of US$22,000 for the procurement of pipes. The Council added US$9,000, covering manpower and accessories. As a local authority, we deeply appreciate Shamva Mine’s support, and I invite you, Honourable Minister, to witness the progress on the ground.”
The partnership between the mine and the RDC has become a symbol of what happens when business and local government pull in the same direction.
Also adding her voice was Senator Monica Mavhunga, who represents Shamva District and doubles as the Minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle. “There is nothing more important than the dignity of health and the security of clean water,” she said. “Through Shamva Mine’s work in sanitation and hospital upgrades, lives are being protected and futures safeguarded. A healthy community is the foundation of development, and Shamva has recognised this truth. Their investment is not just in infrastructure, it is in the lives of women, men, children, and the elderly who call this district home.”
Her words highlighted what has become the hallmark of Shamva’s CSR model: projects that touch everyday lives. Whether it is rehabilitating a hospital ward, refurbishing ablution facilities, or maintaining the Shamva–Bindura Highway, the mine has consistently invested in initiatives that go beyond mining outputs to strengthen the very fabric of the community.
Behind these efforts stands Engineer Gift Mapakame, General Manager of Shamva Mine, who has long stressed that CSR is not about charity but about strategy. He insists that the mine’s success depends on its ability to secure a social licence from the communities it operates in — a licence that must be renewed not through promises but through action. Guided by four pillars — health, empowerment, education, and environmental stewardship — Shamva’s CSR work is a blueprint for sustainable mining in Zimbabwe.
It is therefore no surprise that at the commissioning ceremony, speaker after speaker stood to recognise the mine’s contributions. The sense of appreciation was unanimous, from government ministers to council leaders and community representatives. Shamva has demonstrated that mining companies can and should be partners in local development, not just extractors of wealth.
In the past two years alone, the mine has invested over US$500,000 in CSR projects across Shamva District — a sum that tells its own story of commitment. From sewer lines to hospital wards, from roads to wellness outreach, that investment has been woven into the daily lives of thousands.
It is for this reason that Shamva Mine was not just thanked at the ceremony; it was celebrated. Celebrated as a company that understands mining is not only about ounces of gold but about building stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities.
