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Victor Maphosa recently in Mutoko

The call by the New Dispensation under President Mnangagwa for organisations to add value to products before export is bearing fruit, with a Chinese company installing a black granite cutting and polishing plant in Mutoko.

Richbasin Minerals has completed the first phase of the plant and already US$1,7 million has been invested and now cutting and polishing of the stone has commenced.

The establishment of the plant in rural Mutoko dovetails with the Second Republic’s agenda of rural development through industrialisation.

In the past, the cutting and polishing plants were located in Harare, Chitungwiza and Ruwa.

The organisation is investing US$5 million for the full project, which will see phase 2 and 3 being completed in the next two to three years.

Yesterday, Minister for Presidential Affairs and Monitoring Implementation of Government Programmes Dr Jorum Gumbo visited the plant to have an appreciation of all the operations at the site.

He bemoaned the issue of exporting resources in their raw form, a scenario which does not bring satisfying foreign currency to the country. 

“I say this because one of the greatest unresolved challenges facing our mining sector is the lack of value addition. 

“In my view, of all the challenges facing the sector, the failure to add value to our products before they are exported has proved the most perverse. 

“The result has been that most products are exported in their raw form to global markets.

“The National Development Strategy 1 recognises that the key link to structural transformation is value addition and beneficiation of agriculture and mining products. During NDS1 period, priority will be given to developing and strengthening already existing value chains and beneficiation of agricultural and other products. 

“The strategy will also prioritise decentralisation of industrialisation initiatives in line with the policy thrust of devolution and decentralisation.

“In this regard, value addition and beneficiation industries will be located in specific provinces and districts where the endowments are located. 

“The black granite cutting and polishing plant for which we are gathered here today, is a typical example of this new tragedy. 

“It is against this background that I would like to applaud Richbasin Minerals for setting up a black granite cutting and polishing plant here in Mutoko.”

Dr Gumbo said the Second Republic will ensure that communities benefit from resources found in their areas.

“It is the desire of Government that communities should benefit from resources found in their jurisdictions. Government therefore welcomes the envisaged value addition of the black granite to produce commercial products that include slabs, tiles, kitchen tops, counter tops, staircases, fire places, window sills and fittings and furnishings.

It is estimated that the company will earn approximately US$2 million by the end of the first year of operations through exports.”

He said that the challenges faced by Richbasin Minerals which include power cuts will be looked into.

Dr Gumbo urged the organisation to implement tangible and transformative corporate social responsibility programmes for the benefit of the surrounding community.

In a speech read on her behalf by Mashonaland East Permanent Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Mr Tavabarira Kutamahufa, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland East Province Dr Aplonia Munzverengwi applauded Richbasin Minerals for heeding President Mnangagwa’s call to value add minerals before being exported.

“President Mnangagwa gave us a task of ensuring that our granite stones are value added before being exported. We are pleased to share with the nation that Richbasin Minerals heeded the call by President Mnangagwa and are investing in a cutting and polishing plant.

Mashonaland East Province is well known for the black granite and it has been our desire to see the stones being value added for increased benefits to local communities in terms of exports and revenue.

“In line with the devolution thrust, Government has been calling for decentralisation of economic activities to districts. The coming in of Richbasin Minerals resonates well with our rural industrialisation agenda,” she said.

Richbasin Minerals publicity officer Mr Lei Nie said his organisation is pleased to be operating in Mutoko and they will do programmes which include rehabilitation of roads as a away of giving back to the community.

He said it reduces costs to operate near extracting points and they are happy with the environment they are working under in the country.