Mnangagwa tells chiefs ZISCO and Shabanie Mines will be operational by March

The Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company as well as the Shabanie and Mashaba Mines will be operational by the end of March President Emmerson Mnangagwa told chiefs yesterday.

“Pane vataura nyaya dzeZisco ne Shabanie mines, zviri kugadzirwa; zvose izvozvo inyaya dziri mundima pa100 days. Pa100 days ndofunga dzese dziri mbiri dzinofanirwa kunge dzaakushanda,” Mnangagwa  said.

It is not clear who will revive ZISCO but the government signed an agreement with Hong Kong-based R&F for the Chinese property firm to invest $1 billion to revive ZISCO.

The revival of ZISCO will boost several companies like Sable Chemicals, Lancashire Steel, the National Railways of Zimbabwe and Hwange Colliery.

Binga Legislator Gabbuza Joel Gabbuza said half of Zimbabwe’s problems will be resolved once ZISCO gets back on line.

Mnangagwa’s statement on Shabanie coincides with that of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe chair Rita Likukuma that the mine will be operating by end of March.

“By beginning of March this year, they must have restarted operations. During the festive holidays, they did not stop working on the plant to resume operations,” she was quoted by the Sunday Mail as saying.

“The mine sold its properties to raise funding required to restart operations. They sold their mine houses to Great Zimbabwe University.”

Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando told Parliament last week  that a total of 50 workers had been engaged to process dumps at the two mines. He said the number was expected to rise to 300.

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