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Lovemore Zigara, Midlands Correspondent
ZVISHAVANE-based diamond mining concern, Murowa Diamonds Mine is giving $500, 000 worth of suppliers contracts to the Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) every year as part of the mine’s efforts to empower locals.

The mine has assisted the local community in setting up businesses before training them on how to run them.

Murowa spokesperson, Lovemore Chimuka, told Chronicle Business that the business enterprises are flourishing and one of the assisted locals has already employed more than 50 people.

“We’ve engaged SME’s from the local community who are in their own right employers. We’ve helped them set up their own businesses in construction, laundry, waste management, cleaning and housekeeping. We’ve put the individuals in a pool and trained them on how to run businesses.

“They are providing services to us instead of us contracting companies from other areas.

“We’re ploughing more than $500, 000 into the SMEs in the services as well as supplies they are offering to the mine,” said Chimuka

He said the SMEs had created more than 300 jobs for locals.

Murowa employs more than 500 people and 200 more are expected to be employed following the commissioning of mining equipment worth $6 million.

The equipment is part of the $60 million capital injection RioZim Group Limited has committed in the next four years as RioZim seeks to expand operations at the Zvishavane-based mine.