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Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
VICE President Phelekezela Mphoko will tomorrow begin a three-day tour of Matabeleland South Province as part of efforts by the government to monitor the implementation of the indigenisation policy.

Matabeleland South Provincial Administrator, Midard Khumalo, said the VP would visit Maninji and Makorokoro area in Mangwe District tomorrow as well as the Plumtree Border Post.

He said VP Mphoko was expected to move to Matobo district on Thursday and then visit Gwanda and Beitbridge districts on Friday.

‘’Planning is still underway but the VP is expected to visit Makorokoro and Maninji areas on Wednesday. We expect that he’ll be touring mining operations in that district.

‘’The VP will also be travelling to Plumtree Border Post on the same day. The VP will interact with the people in order to have an appreciation of operations on the ground and challenges faced,’’ said Khumalo.

He said the VP would travel to ARDA Irrigation in Matobo district on Thursday and complete his tour with a visit to West Nicholson, Gwanda and the Beitbridge Border Post.

‘’With this three day tour we hope the VP will have an appreciation of the province and identify various areas that require government intervention,’’ said Khumalo.

The National House of Assembly Member for Mangwe, Cde Obedingwa Mguni, said the visit would go a long way in normalising mining activities within the district.

He said his constituency had a lot of mining activities but the sector was not fully fledged due to a number of reasons.

Cde Mguni said the pegging system that was being used was ineffective.

‘’People spend a lot of time fighting over mining claims after being allocated the same mining area because of a poor pegging system. A new system which is more effective has been introduced and we hope that it’ll be implemented within the district soon,” he said.

Cde Mguni said most miners operating in the area did not have proper working tools.

He also said the area did not have a supply centre for the equipment.

Cde Mguni said the interaction between the VP and the struggling miners was crucial in developing the sector within the district.

He said it would also help identify potential investors for the mining sector within the district.