THE ANNOUNCEMENT yesterday by Aim-listed multi-commodity natural resources company Premier African Minerals that its Binga-based rare-earth project would be a priority this year should be a precursor for good things to come to Matabeleland North this year.
Matabeleland North is one of the poorest provinces in Zimbabwe, but it is undoubtedly one of the best endowed in terms of natural resources including the mighty Victoria Falls.
Binga in particular, is the most remote and underdeveloped district in the country yet it sits on the banks of the Zambezi River where besides the lucractive fishing business, there is massive potential for irrigation farming. In the past few years, it has emerged that the district has vast untapped mineral resources.
According to a report we carry elsewhere today, Premier which last year did a lot of trenching in the multi-phased rare-earth elements- enriched carbonatite surface complex of the Katete project, has found deposits rich enough to carry out profitable mining activities.
The company expects to intensify its work this year. Premier also recently completed a drilling programme at its 49%-owned RHA tungsten project in Kamitivi.
This would lead to the revival of Kamativi which had turned into a ghost town after the tin mine closed over a decade ago.
“Our primary focus remains the early reopening of this mine and the updating of the geological model and resource statement, (which) together with the confirmatory metallurgical work being undertaken, are important steps in facilitating this,” the company announced yesterday.
The announcement came at a time when the region needed some dose of good news because it has all been doom on the investment front especially with the diminishing prospects of Bulawayo’s industries being revived.
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However, before we look at the bigger picture it would be paramount to ensure that the projects benefit the local communities first.
The people of Binga and Kamativi have suffered for too long and it is high time they reaped benefits for the natural resources they have been guarding jealously.
That means the locals have to get preferential treatment especially for jobs. There have been complaints in the past that when investors set up projects in areas such as Hwange and Victoria Falls, unskilled labour is imported from outside the region.
It would be a travesty of justice if that scenario is allowed to play out in Binga and Kamativi.
