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Minister Walter Chidhakwa

Prosper Ndlovu Business Editor—
DISUSED tin and lithium-rich Kamativi Mine is geared for a rebound after five potential investors tendered applications to the government seeking partnership in its resuscitation. The proposed investment has kindled hope for job opportunities, better life for Kamativi people and increased economic prospects for Matabeleland North and the country at large.

Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa confirmed five unnamed investors were keen to partner with the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC), to bring Kamativi back to life.

“We received five applications in respect of Kamativi and we’ve gone now to a very advanced stage of looking at those to see whether they meet what we originally said we wanted to achieve,” he told Parliament last week.

“We’re now at the final stages of deciding who we’re going to work with on the resuscitation of Kamativi.”

The mine, a wholly owned ZMDC subsidiary, closed operations in 1994 after 58 years of operation. It produced tin and other by-products including tantalite niobium and lithium.

The government recently said it was mobilising up to $100 million to finance the resuscitation of the mine.

The minister said lithium was not only found in Kamativi but many locations in Zimbabwe like Bikita Minerals and on dumps across the country.

Kamativi Mine closed on the back of a collapse of international price of tin since 1985 and increasing competition with plastics.

“When we went back to look at the mine, we actually discovered that the mine is not just a tin mine, but it’s probably less a tin mine than other minerals.

“We’ve listed seven minerals including tantalum, lithium beryllium and a few other minerals, which makes seven,” Minister Chidhakwa added.

“What we’ve done is that some time ago, we asked ZMDC to describe exactly what we wanted to achieve as a government in order to get Kamativi back on line.

“This we did in respect not just of Kamativi but in respect of the other mines that were owned by ZMDC that are today not operating.”

Lithium and its compounds have several fundamental commercial applications, including heat-resistant glass and ceramics, greases, high strength-to-weight alloys and lithium batteries among others.

The minister said he has directed ZMDC to flight an advertisement requesting private Zimbabweans who may be interested in participating in the resuscitation of these closed mines.

“We’re not just asking for tin, we’ve said anybody who wants to go into Kamativi with ZMDC will have to have the capacity to do all the seven minerals.

“We must have the capacity to do them right up to very high levels of beneficiation. We’re confident that we will be able to get to that objective,” said Minister Chidhakwa.