The Sunday News
Dosman Mangisi
THE country’s second largest platinum miner Mimosa Platinum in Zvishavane has said it channelled $224 million towards Government taxes and various corporate social responsibilities programmes last year.
Mimosa Platinum mine executive chairman Mr Wiston Chitando told Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa during the company’s handover ceremony of mining equipment to small- scale miners in Zvishavane last week that the company has been compliant in paying Government taxes, dividends, local and foreign suppliers as well as local authorities.
“We strive as a company to foster a mutually beneficial relationship with Government and our valued communities at large. It is our passion to complement Government programmes and its economic blue print (Zim Asset) in line with our sector of mining,” said Mr Chitando.
He said during the year, the company paid about $100 million to Government in various taxes which is about 45 percent of their spending, while eight percent was paid as dividends and five percent to local authorities.
He said as part of promoting down and up stream business, the company awarded business contracts to local and foreign suppliers.
Locals benefited about 21 percent amounting to $47 million, local non-indigenous suppliers benefited about five percent which amounted to $12 million and foreign suppliers were paid $33 million which is about 15 percent.
Mr Chitando said the company has won accolades for its corporate social responsibility programmes.
“Mimosa has been awarded accolades in corporate social responsibilities. It won the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce award in the region and at national (level) in 2013. In 2012 the company won a regional centre for social responsibility runner-up award and outstanding private/public community partnership initiative,” he said.
Mr Chitando said the company has embarked on a project to build infrastructure in schools in and around Zvishavane.
He said the company has also supported the University of Zimbabwe with administrative equipment and scholarship programmes while at the Zimbabwe School of Mines it has constructed a learning block.
In the health sector, Mimosa helped Zvishavane District Hospital by refurbishing the theatre, maternity and male wards.
A mortuary was constructed and equipped with state of the art equipment. The platinum mining company also refurbished the Harare Hospital School of Nursing. It equipped it with beds, cooking facilities and laundry machines, giving it a major facelift.
The platinum company has also made some interventions into welfare and wellness initiatives in the communities around by drilling boreholes and establishing a horticulture project at Mtshingwe School.
It upgraded sewer ponds in Zvishavane town. The company has upgraded Mandava Stadium to a state of the art sports facility.
Minister Chidhakwa, in complimentary remarks said the Mimosa management has demonstrated the key objectives of the Government.
“Mimosa as a company you have demonstrated to be a citizen company of Zimbabwe, because you are extracting the resource of this country and you are benefiting the citizens of this country who are Zimbabweans. I urge you to move beyond and continue doing well by complementing Government efforts to uplift people’s lives,” said Minister Chidhakwa.
