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Leonard Ncube, [email protected]

KAMATIVI Mining Company (KMC), a joint venture between Sichuan PD Technology Group, a subsidiary of Chinese listed Yahua Group and local partner, Defold Mine, has said that former tin mine workers will not be evicted from the houses they occupy.

KMC is exploring for lithium rather than tin and started operations in 2019.

The new mine also made assurances that it has no intention to displace any communities.

It has completed phase one of the mine and is now working on phase two which will increase production. The company has also undertaken projects, including water provision, road construction and the renovation of public market places.

The project currently employs 260 people and indirectly a further 1 000 through contracts.

Kamativi Tin Mine closed in 1994 when international prices of tin plummeted to unsustainable levels and its former workers stayed put.

The former workers have over the years unsuccessfully tried to secure ownership of the houses from the then owner, Zimbabwe Mining Development Company, which operated the tin mine, and there had been fears that the new investor would evict them.

KMC has re-opened the mine and expects to invest a total of US$249 million, this time exploring for lithium and not tin.

Phase one of the mine is already successfully running and producing 300 000 tonnes of raw ore and 50 000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate per annum.

Phase two, which will ramp up production to 2,3 million tonnes of raw ore and 300 000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate per annum, is under construction and will be completed mid-year.

In an interview after a recent tour of the mine, KMC general manager, Mr Ye Jianguo, said there will be no displacement of locals. He said the National Youth Service base issue was also being addressed.

“Our operation is not happening in the community area, so there is not going to be any community or village we need to relocate. We will build our own houses for our employees,” said Mr Jianguo.

He said the National Youth Service Training Camp management was working on handing over the facilities back to the mine or Hwange Rural District Council, which will put an end to a long standing battle over the issue.

KMC non-executive director, Mr Munashe Shava, said the board had given direction on the issues for management to implement. There are about 600 housing units occupied by former tin mine workers.

Some houses and infrastructure had been vandalised over the years, but the former workers still want ownership.

Work is underway to construct a dedicated 88kv power line to supply the project as Kamativi has electricity challenges.

The power line has been cleared from Kamativi across Gwayi River towards Cross Dete.

Hwange RDC Ward 11 councillor, Josephat Tshuma, also confirmed that KMC had assured them that no one will be evicted.

“KMC has said they will build houses for their workers. We have seen somewhere that if someone has occupied a house for more than 30 years, they can own the house, so we look forward to that,” he said.