I am saying, we need to now play an important part and get this mine to resuscitate so that it could employ over 10 thousand people. We can produce and export asbestos and make sure that things are being done – the living standards of our people, that is a sleeping giant in this country, Mr. Speaker. I feel that if we do not do something as a matter of urgency – it was actually better off the mine was being run by Mawere. We would be able to control him and tell him these are the laws. The problem is that there are many accusations that have never been proved.
This mine had been going on for years. The previous Parliament; my previous predecessors, the Mines and Energy Portfolio Committee then, made recommendations and none of that has been followed until today. What has actually happened is that these mines have now been turned into schools and universities. Mashava is Great Zimbabwe University and Zvishavane is Midlands State University. We need to get these mines to be resuscitated, people would get what belongs to them and we would be able to make sure that at least our country; the economy will improve foreign currency inflows.
What we need to understand is that when this mine was taken over and put under reconstruction, the directors of this mine had no plans or intentions of closing this mine. There was never any of those plans but since it was taken over, put under reconstruction, it never worked but continues to strip the company down. There is nothing left; it is now just a shell. We might be still saying we have got a mine but it is just an old structure with nothing in it.
I would like to say, it is sad to take somebody who does not even know how to run a mine and give him the mine to run. If I were to take a security guard who is at the gate and make him a manager of a certain entity, it is not going to work. I am bound to make sure that this mine is going to collapse.
Mr. Speaker, I know a lot of Hon. Members have got a lot of things to say regarding Shabanie Mine but I take particular interest because I come from that area. There is a lot of research that I have done but I need to clarify some other issues regarding Zvishavane and Mashava mines. Is it going to open up again or is it not going to open up again no one knows. Mr. Speaker, let us look at Mutumwa Mawere. Mutumwa Mawere is actually a person who was born in Gutu. He is not a foreigner, so we cannot even talk about indigenisation there. He is part and parcel of us. – [AN HON. MEMBER: He is a criminal that one.] – We may say he is a criminal or whatever but I want you to understand that until you have been proven guilty, you are not guilty.
There are certain issues that have happened but I am sure there is a better way of resolving certain issues and making sure that that mine is resuscitated so that it can benefit, not only the people of Zvishavane but the people of Zimbabwe. A lot of companies were established through SMM Holdings and now SMM Holdings is at a standstill. Mr. Speaker, let me hasten to say that a lot of issues transpired in the past but there was never any externalisation that took place, or else he would have been convicted. Yes, SMM Holdings was owing a lot of money, but it was managing to pay its workers, contribute to the fiscus and it was producing.
I have this diagram which shows the water levels at Zvishavane mine. (Showing a diagram to the House). They are currently sitting on 570 metres; it is full of water going down. a lot of equipment has perished underground. If it exceeds that 570 metres, then there is no way Shabanie Mine can ever open again. Mr. Speaker, this would be one of the saddest that would ever happen to this country, if we do not open that mine. With those few words, I thank you for allowing me to debate on Shabanie Mine.
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