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Nqobile Tshili in Hwange
FOUR hundred more jobs will be created by the end of this year at the formerly defunct Kamativi Tin Mine in Matabeleland North Province where pan-African mining giant, Bravura Group, is setting up a second lithium processing plant, in yet another milestone investment ushered in by the Second Republic.

The Bravura Lithium Project is situated within the Kamativi Tin compound and shares boundary with the Chinese owned Kamativi Mining Company (KMC), which was officially commissioned by President Mnangagwa last year.

Bravura’s initial 400 employed workers will add to the 1 200 workers who were employed by KMC last year.

Preparatory processes to set up the massive plant are underway on site with the Nigerian investor hinting that installation works would commence in April, with operations resuming before the end of the year.

Presidential Affairs and Devolution Permanent Secretary, Engineer Tafadzwa Muguti, who was accompanied by Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Richard Moyo and senior company managers, visited the site yesterday and were briefed that all the equipment has been brought to the ground ahead of installation.

Engineer Tafadzwa Muguti

The company also handed over six houses to the Government as part of the relocation plans to those who would have their homes demolished to pave way for the project.

Bravura constructed four by eight-roomed houses and two, nine-roomed houses, with Government recommending that the houses be partitioned to accommodate two families as they were too big for a single family.

Bravura Lithium Project head, Engineer Tafadzwa Muridzi, said following the delivery of equipment, they will commence installation next month.

“In terms of timelines, we expect that in April we will start the construction of the plant. We will start with the plant foundations. This is a 10-key project, meaning the vendor who manufactured the plant will be coming to the ground for the installations,” she said.

“After that installation then comes the commissioning of the plant. We anticipate that all that will happen from April to the end of the year and then we should be able to run,” said Eng Muridzi.

She said the investment was substantial and will contribute to national economic growth while uplifting lives of ordinary people in Kamativi. Eng Muridzi said already the company is incurring costs as it has employed staff who are doing the preliminary works.

“This is a significant project for Zimbabwe because we will be contributing towards the total lithium that will be processed within the country,” she said.

“This will add to the Gross Domestic Product that is generated for the country. So, we will be playing our significant part in ensuring that value rises and in addition, we will be creating employment and developing the community itself. This will contribute a lot towards development within the country,” said Eng Muridzi.

In his remarks, Eng Muguti said it was exciting that Zimbabwe was not just attracting Asian and European investors but continental investors as well.

“We are quite excited that this is our own African brother, Bravura brothers and sisters from Nigeria who have come to take advantage of the ‘Zimbabwe is open for business policy,” he said.

“His Excellency (President Mnangagwa), did met the investors last year and gave them all the blessings to come and invest. As you are aware, Kamative Tin has been closed for 30 years, it is quite exciting that we have KMC, our Chinese investors on the other side of the mountain, we also have an African investor,” said Eng Muguti.

“All along we have been seeing the Asian investors and European investors but there has been a few African investors. So, for the Nigerian Federal Government through its investors to start coming into Kamativi and start uplifting this community is quite good.”

He said he was informed that the plant will employ at least 400 workers, which will transform lives.
Eng Muguti also encouraged the company to conduct on-the-job training for some of the programmes as opposed to relying on skilled employees only, which will leave out the majority of the locals.

“It’s quite significant we have a number of unemployed youths and in terms of social programmes, it has been difficult for Government as you can see these are very marginalised communities,” he said.

“We are quite excited that about 400 jobs will be created in the process. Many able-bodied girls and the youth will get jobs. Not all the 400 jobs will be for skilled people. It will be for locals who will be trained here. We should be processing lithium by December here in Matabeleland North,” said Eng Muguti.

He said Government has allocated the previously owned Kamativi Tin Mine houses to Bravura Lithium Project for their employees.

Commenting on the project, Minister Moyo said it was pleasing that investors continue to show confidence in Matabeleland North.

Minister Richard Moyo

“Bravura Zimbabwe, a subsidiary of the Bravura Group, has made a considerable commitment to this project, by investing hundreds of millions of dollars in the revival of the Kamativi Tin Mines,” he said.

“This project has reached advanced stages and will be operationalised from one of the largest plants in Africa, showcasing Bravura’s dedication to excellence and its confidence in Zimbabwe’s economic potential,” said Minister Moyo.

He said Bravura Group’s investment in Zimbabwe is in sync with President Mnangagwa’s assertion that ‘Africans must move beyond narratives where the continent’s rich natural resources are a blessing or a curse’.

Minister Moyo said the Second Republic has created a conducive environment for investment and investors must reciprocate the country by ensuring sustainable development.

“We must be awake and leverage on our natural resource endowments to build our beloved continent, brick by brick; stone upon stone and step by step, leaving no place and no one behind,” he said.

“Well done, Bravura Zimbabwe, we look forward to future collaborations for the betterment of the lives of our communities.” — @nqotshili