Zimplats widens CSR footprint
Platinum miner Zimplats Holdings has widened its social responsibility footprint and donated a state of the art dairy parlor project worth over US$500 000 to the Gwebi College of Agriculture, in line with its drive to help in the building of sustainable communities through giving back.
Prince Sunduzani
The parlor will benefit the college and the surrounding communities with revenue generation and increased dietary options in line with sustainable development goals.
The parlor was officially commissioned by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga who, in a speech read on his behalf by Lands and Agriculture minister Anxious Masuka, commended the platinum miner for its continued support of Zimbabwean communities.
“I am reliably informed that Zimplats invested over half a million United States dollars towards infrastructural development and refurbishment of this facility. It is at the back of such investments that we are seeing a positive recovery of the country’s dairy sector,” he said.
“As part of the partnership agreement, Gwebi Agricultural College will empower local communities by taking groups from the community for training on better management of herd health, and for training on the concept of rearing rural cattle for commercial purposes”.
The milking parlor has the capacity to milk 64 cows per hour and 300 cows per session.
Palmline Investments also donated 20 Holstein in-calf cows to the college to boost their dairy herd.
Zimplats chief executive officer Alex Mhembere said his company was committed to the continued support of projects that empower communities.
He said Zimplats through its activities intends to create a better future for Zimbabweans.
“I am humbled to stand before this august gathering as we once again fulfil our purpose of creating a better future through the metals we produce and the way in which we do business. As Zimplats we believe in creating shared value with the communities we operate in and to this end, the investment we have made in the milking parlor facility here at Gwebi Agricultural college is a testimony to our pursuit of continual improvement in social performance and to contribute to the wellbeing of the communities in our country,” he said.
Zimplats embarked on a cattle ranching and dairy project through a joint venture project with Palmline Investments that was officially launched by Mnangagwa in Ngezi on 26 August 2021.