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to finalise preparations for its official launch set for Gwanda today.

Officials said today’s meeting will be attended by the Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment, Saviour Kasukuwere, and members of the local organising committee in the province, which includes Matabeleland South Province Governor Angeline Masuku.

Among other issues expected to be discussed at the meeting are the province’s preparedness on the issue of venue and the date of the launch. The CSOS/T is a countrywide Government initiative spearheading development and empowering rural communities by giving them a 10 percent stake in all businesses that exploit natural resources in their areas. In an interview yesterday, Governor Masuku confirmed the meeting.
“As a province we have already finished preparations in terms of mobilisation and what is left is for the responsible ministries to update us on what they agreed on with the mines,” she said.

Governor Masuku said the date of the launch was dependent on when President Mugabe would be available.
“There is no date as yet as those we have are just proposals. We are having a meeting tomorrow and I am informed the responsible ministers will be available. The launch depends on whether the President is available and we will hear that tomorrow from Minister Kasukuwere,” she said.
“As a province, our duty is to tell them what we want. The minister will be here to check on the preparedness and how far we have gone and update us on the response from the mines.”

Governor Masuku said the targeted firms included Blanket, Vumbachikwe and Pretoria Portland Cement.
She said the firms had already contributed towards preparations for the launch.
However, unconfirmed reports yesterday indicated that at least two mines were resisting the implementation of the scheme, raising fears the launch might be delayed.

Asked to comment on the reports, Governor Masuku said: “Well, let me say if you get into somebody’s home and live there for many years telling yourself it is now yours forgetting that one day that person’s children or grandchildren will claim their land, it is not easy to let go of it.
“Nxa usunabe kakhulu and since they are now used to telling themselves the land is theirs, it is not easy and all we are saying is let us share. I cannot really confirm the reports but I can tell you that all of the mines contributed towards transport costs and preparation of the venue for the launch. However, I am not sure about the mines’ position on the 10 percent they are supposed to cede to the community.”

Minister Kasukuwere could not be reached for comment yesterday, as his mobile phone was not reachable.
Zimplats was the first to launch the scheme in Mhondoro, Chegutu and Zvimba in October last year. Unki Mines in Shurugwi was the second and last month the scheme was launched at Mimosa Mine in Zvishavane.