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Mining Correspondent
THE Tongogara Community Share Ownership Trust (TCSOT) has disbursed $600,000 towards socio-economic development projects in 24 wards in Shurugwi District, an official has said. The money was released mid-July to finance phase three projects with each ward getting $25,000. The trust was established in2011 by President Robert Mugabe as part of the indigenisation and economic empowerment drive, which requires foreign-owned companies to cede 51 percent of their shares to locals and retain 49 percent.

Under the scheme, the community owns 10 percent of the 51 percent majority stake.

Tongogara CSOT received $10 million from Unki Platinum Mine, which is located south-east of Shurugwi town.

Since then the scheme has embarked on a number of development projects.

The administrator of the trust, Maxwell Dave, said proceeds from the scheme had started transforming the community.

“The trust has approved ward projects with each ward receiving $25,000. The fund is channelled towards socio-economic development projects in their respective wards. Some have embarked on income- generating projects like horticulture, some are building community halls and clinics, others are making commercial bricks and some are into mining projects. The wards are working with ward councillors,” he said.

Dave said the development would enhance attainment of Zim-Asset goals on employment creation and poverty eradication.

The scheme has achieved much in its first phase since 2012 where it constructed a complete school for about 400 pupils.

At Musasa Primary, four classroom blocks and three houses for teachers and two toilet blocks for pupils have been constructed at a cost of $400,000.

A new dam had also been constructed under Chief Nhema.

The funds have also been used to construct a mortuary and a shelter for expecting mothers at Zvamabande Rural Hospital while a maternity ward has been erected under Chief Ndanga.

A classroom block and teachers’ cottage were constructed under Banga.

The trust has also managed to drill 160 boreholes around Shurugwi district.

In the second phase, the trust managed to acquire a state of the art borehole drilling rig, a motorised grader and a 15-tonne truck.

The equipment has repaired about 600km of roads around Shurugwi and rehabilitated water systems in Svika Clinic under Chief Nhema.