After years of semi-disolation, Kamativi in Matabeleland North is bustling with life following the opening of a lithium mine within the former tin mining area.
A China investor, Yahua Group, through Kamativi Mining Company (KMC) has helped to repurpose the tin mine that was closed down in 1994 to produce the much sought after lithium.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa early this year officially commissioned the repurposed Kamativi Mining Company (KMC)’s phase one lithium processing plant while construction of the second plant was underway.
The company is now galvanizing production levels to rise to 2,3 million tonnes of raw ore and 300 000 tonnes of lithium concentrate per annum.
KMC has come up with various initiatives to ensure that the local community benefits from the mine’s revival.
It has channelled more than US$2 million towards various community development projects that are already having a positive impact on ordinary people’s lives.
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“With the restart of the Kamativi amining in September 2022, KMC has revitalised this community that had been dormant for nearly 30 years,” the firm said.
“By creating more than 300 jobs directly and more than 1 000 jobs indirectly through contractors, KMC has made an important contribution to local economic development.
“The company has been active in assuming social responsibility, with a total investment of approximately US$2.2 million, focusing on improving the community's infrastructure, including roads, water supply, electricity supply, etc., and repairing community schools, hospitals, churches, bus stops, street lights and other public facilities.
“These investments have not only improved the quality of life of residents, but also laid a solid foundation for the long-term development of the community,” reads the statement.
KMC’s investment has excited traditional leaders in the district and the local community who are already feeling its impact.
KMC started operations in 2019 with construction for Phase One of the project commencing in March 2023 focused on lithium exploration, mining and processing within Kamativi.
The tin mine closed down in 1994 when international prices of tin plummeted to unsustainable levels.
At that time more than 3 000 people were employed by the mine, which still had a 40- year lifespan.
KMC expects in the long run to invest a total of US$249 million with US$100 million already injected into the first phase.
For three decades, Kamativi turned into a ghost town and infrastructure that included roads, buildings, water and power facilities were vandalised.
At the commissioning of the plant, the Yahua Group president, Meng Yan, said the revival of Kamativi Mine was a grand moment for communities that had been isolated for almost 30 years.
Meng said so far significant resources have been invested in community projects while millions more have been paid in taxes.
“We take corporate social responsibility seriously and we have so far invested US$2 million in various community projects and these include rehabilitation of roads, resuscitation of electricity and water supplies and assisting local schools and clinics,” he said.
“KMC has contributed significantly to Zimbabwe’s fiscus as it has paid more than US$8 million in taxes and after the completion of Phase Two, this project will create more jobs and pay more in taxes.”
Meng said the company’s community social responsibility efforts were meant to instill confidence and have a community buy-in so that the community shares the company’s vision.
The company is employing 300 people directly and approximately 1 000 others indirectly through subcontracts.
During the resuscitation and development of Kamativi Mine, Yan said there has been a remarkable seamless integration between stakeholders from China and Zimbabwe, which made it easy to overcome a myriad of challenges.
Meng said Yahua Group has always embraced the ethos of sustainable development hence it takes seriously issues to do with environmental conservation including efficient water-saving technologies.
KMC is a joint venture company operated and controlled by Sichuan PD Technology Group, a subsidiary of the Chinese-listed entity Yahua Group and a local partner, Defold Mine (Private) Limited.
Meng said the cordial relations between China and Zimbabwe, which date back to the pre-independence times, remain anchored in the operation principle of consultation, collaboration, construction, shared prosperity and win-win co-operation.
He said his investment group was committed to contribute more towards Zimbabwe’s socio-economic development to ensure Government achieves Vision 2030 of an empowered upper middle-income economy.