The Sunday News
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
A MINER in Bubi District, Matabeleland North, Mr Cecil Mathambo has brought cheers to people in the area after donating a water pump and electric cables for the rehabilitation of Mdutshane Rural Health Centre borehole system.
In an interview, Mr Mathambo said residents approached him for assistance after the clinic had gone for nine months without water.
“The clinic which is in Ward 20 has had water problems for the past nine months. There is a borehole that was drilled by a well-wisher but it had developed some challenges and the pump had been worn out.
As a person well known in the community, residents approached me to assist with the challenge. I managed to get the water pump and electric cables for the borehole system which cost over US$500 and I have since handed these to the local leadership,” he said.
He said the water challenge had resulted in people who went to the clinic, those admitted and expecting mothers having to bring along with them water containers to the clinic.
Mr Mathambo said others who had to travel long distances and could not bring water had to be at times turned away even though they were in need of serious health services.
“As miners we are making great efforts to contribute to the Government’s US$12 billion mining industry target by 2023. At the same time, we are giving back to the community to complement the realisation of Vision 2030 of an upper middle-income economy by that year, so ploughing back to our districts ensures that no one is left behind.”
Mr Mathambo said he has done other several donations that include roofing of Emhlabathini Primary school which had been damaged by a storm, in Ward 21 he also delivered bags of cement and bricks for the rehabilitation of the water system among other projects.
He said there were other projects he was to roll out in the area that include sponsoring different sporting activities such as soccer and netball for youth development.
Mr Mathambo’s mine named Bola South Mine has over 75 employees and delivers about 200 grams of gold to Fidelity Refineries on average in a month from the two blocks.
Bubi District Ward 20 Councillor Abednico Maphosa said the donation by Mr Mathambo had been greatly welcomed and they were to hold an official event once the pump and electric cables had been installed.
