Bulawayo, (New Ziana)- Coal miners in Matebeleland North province have been challenged to pool resources and assist in the rehabilitation of the railway line between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls as the country aims to become a regional logistics hub.
Acting President Constantino Chiwenga made this call while officiating at the 23rd edition of the Mining, Engineering and Transport Expo(Mine Entra) held at the Zimbabwe International Conference and Exhibition Smart City(ZICES). This year`s event ran under the theme: “Beyond Extraction: Sustaining the Future of Mining.”
The event is jointly organised by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe Miners Federation. “It is now high time that all coal fields up in the north start thinking of coming together to help rebuild, rehabilitate that railway line from Victoria Falls to Bulawayo.
“You don’t have to wait for people to come and do it for you, do it yourself. As government we are going to sign an agreement so that you recover your costs. We need now to start thinking outside the box. “What you and I should be able to do and not to sit and think miracles are going to happen. It will not. We have these resources, let’s use them wisely,” he said.
VP Chiwenga’s call came at a time when the government is finalising a US$533 million deal with China Railway International Group for a comprehensive revamp and expansion of the national railway system, which includes the construction of a new Harare-Beitbridge line.
The Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has indicated its willingness to lend the NRZ US$115 million to restore 254 kilometres of critical network, procure nine locomotives and 315 wagons, and overhaul communication infrastructure.
This injection will boost the NRZ, as it is currently moving only 2.3 million tonnes of cargo annually, a fraction of the 14 million tonnes it moved in the 1990s and just under 13 percent of its 18-million-tonne capacity. VP Chiwenga also said mining must drive industrialization, create jobs and support downstream sectors, adding that the country remains open for business.
“The Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill, now gazetted, and according to the second reading, modernizes our mining regime. “It dovetails with global best practices by enforcing accountability, transparency and corporate social responsibility.
“It ensures that every investor operates ethically. Every project benefits communities and every operation protects the environment. It will result in mining and translating intangible benefits to communities through development of schools, buildings, roads, and sustainable livelihoods,” he said.
In addition, VP Chiwenga said, government will implement strict regulations and oversight mechanisms to ensure that corruption within the mining sector is effectively eradicated. He said corruption erodes public trust, distorts markets and deprive citizens of their rightful benefits.
New Ziana
