The Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Dr. Polite Kambamura, has expressed satisfaction with the country’s second-biggest platinum group metals (PGMs) producer, Mimosa Mining Company’s, development and corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects.
Rudairo Mapuranga
Last week, the Deputy Minister visited the mining company as part of a ministerial visit. During his visit, he witnessed various projects by the mine, including a US$34 million plant optimization project, a US$134 million northern ore body exploration, a 110 million ton capacity tailings dam, and the construction of a state-of-the-art clinic, among others.
The Deputy Minister stated that he was impressed by Mimosa’s people-oriented company policy. Despite the company being affected by softening commodity prices, they have focused on maximizing recoveries rather than laying off employees.
He stated that the 3,800 employees at Mimosa are guaranteed their jobs because Mimosa is committed to the well-being of its employees. He believes that if other countries followed suit, the country would have a strong socio-economic foundation.
“I visited their three projects, which are currently in progress. One of them is nearly complete, which is the plant optimization. Despite the challenging conditions, Mimosa has not laid off any employees. Instead, they have found ways to improve plant efficiencies to increase recoveries.
“They have also invested in the exploration of the northern portion of the ore body to extend the life of the mine. The exploration has been completed, and now the construction phase begins. They invested $134 million in the northern projects.
“For plant optimization, they invested around $34 million. Mimosa currently produces 190,000 ounces of PGM-4E and 240,000 tons of run-of-mine ore per month, which is equivalent to about 2.9 million tons of run-of-mine ore per month.
“They are also constructing a tailings dam with a capacity of 110 million tons. It is currently 96% complete and will have a lifespan of 20 years. The dam will also have the capacity to accommodate new plants.
“In addition, the dam will provide an opportunity for the retreatment of the nearby old dam. By storing the tailings in anticipation of future technology to recover more minerals, the old dam can be retreated on the same site as the new dam.
“The company is engaged in many activities. They currently employ around 3,800 workers, with many of them from the local community. They are also building the MberiMwa Clinic as part of their corporate social responsibility initiatives. The construction of a state-of-the-art hospital is underway, and two wards are almost completed. The company continues to contribute to the economy and the communities in which they operate. They are also involved in cattle ranching, introducing new breeds of cows and bulls into the community. They have provided the community with 500 pedigree bulls, and people are appreciating the hybrid type of cattle. They are also involved in various other projects.
“Mimosa is also partnering with the Zimbabwe School of Mines. During my last visit, they donated a lot of equipment to the school,” Dr. Kambamura said.
