HON. HOLDER: Thank you Mr. Speaker. Can I start again so that this House can get to understand where I am coming from?
THE ACTING SPEAKER: We cannot give them the benefit of the doubt. Continue from where you left.
HON. HOLDER: Thank you Mr. Speaker. As we all know, Shabanie-Mashava Mines closed in 2004. It was a mine that was established in 1914 and because it was a mine that was established in 1914 – Gaths Mine was established in 1914 and Shabanie Mine was established in 1917. Mr. Speaker, Shabanie Mine employed more than 5 500 workers who have since lost their jobs. The reason why I moved this motion is that we always talk about growing the cake, but we need to understand that the moment that we become silent, things that matter in our lives begin to perish.
The reason why I have actually come as Member of Parliament for Zvishavane-Ngezi is because I represent the people. ‘MP’ stands for ‘man of the people’. When you are man of the people, you have to bring the people’s issues to the House. I say that because Shabanie Mine was established in 1917 and it was run by British people for over 70 years. Because it was run by British people for over 70 years, now that an indigenous Zimbabwean purchased this mine or bought shares in this mine, this mine is now stagnant. It is not working, it is dead – the infrastructure and the housing is going down. The roads are going down and the workers have never received their salaries and others have since passed on when they never received any of their payments.
We talk about this economy that the country needs to revive its economy. Most of Shabanie mines material that it mines, they would actually make roofing, asbestos piping for the sewers and most of this country is actually built from what came from Shabanie-Mashava Mines. There are more than 42 million tonnes underground which can be utilised and produced in order for this country to come back onto its feet.
There were 26 subsidiary companies namely; FSI, MidSec Security, Belt and Fasteners, Pigot and Maskew and several others and they were including Tunnel Asbestos. Now Mr. Speaker, I just wanted you to understand that, T and N Holdings owned SMM Holdings and now there is SMM Holdings in the UK and SSM Holdings in Zimbabwe. T and N was actually getting rid of core assets and because it was getting rid of core assets, it put an advert in the London Financial Times that it was getting rid of core assets around the world. Now, what has happened is that, I have a letter here dated the 28th of September, 1995. It was to do with the arrangement of the person who is Mutumwa Mawere who was the person who actually bought shares into SMM Holdings. This mine was put under reconstruction. When it was put under reconstruction, that mine was supposed to be resuscitated but instead, we dissolved a full board and after dissolving the full board, you put one person who has no idea whatsoever of running that mine and has no experience in running it. He was just an administrator.
I am saying this because it pains me so much when I see that this mine has not moved an inch. People are perishing because of the living standards. As long as the mine does not operate, it will depreciate.
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