Zimpapers Logo

The asbestos processing plant lying idle at Shabanie Mashava Mines

Munyaradzi Doma in Zvishavane
THE cash-strapped Zvishavane Town Council is pinning hopes of improving revenue collection in 2018 on the much-anticipated reopening of Shabanie Mashaba Mines which is expected to breathe a new lease of life into the town.

Shabanie Mashaba Mines owed the town council more than $14 million in rates when it shut down several years ago and its reopening will enhance chances of recovering the debt.

There are reports that the closed asbestos mining company could soon reopen amid reports that Government is in the process of finding an investor.

Town council finance committee chair councillor Fatuma Phiri said hopes were high that the mine will service its debt once it resumes operations.

She said the mining concern’s resumption of operations could eventually improve revenue collection and subsequent service delivery.

“Shabanie Mashaba Mine is still not operating but there is high anticipation that it will reopen soon and once that happens council has high hopes that revenue inflows into its coffers will drastically improve,’’ said Clr Phiri.

He said the mining town’s economic fortunes would change for the better by the reopening of Shabanie Mashava Mines which employed thousands of permanent and contract workers at its peak.

‘’We had a similar situation with Sabi Gold Mine which is now operational after being closed for some time. We are happy that the gold miner has started servicing its debt to council thereby improving our financial position,’’ he said.

Clr Phiri said major companies in the mining town owed the largest chunk of the more than $40 million that Zvishavane Town is owed in rates.

Town Secretary Mr Tinoda Mukutu also said Zvishavane was pinning its hopes on the re-opening of Shabanie Mine adding that his council was mulling installation of pre-paid water meters to curb revenue pilferage.

Mr Mukutu said one of those strategies to recover money not only from Shabanie Mine but also other debtors is the installation of prepaid water meters.

He said that installation of prepaid water meters was the last resort as other means were failing.

The Zvishavane Town council said the water meters installation project would start in the town’s Central Business District and some of the suburbs in the mining town, with council having already budgeted $100 000 for the project.

Zvishavane is being weighed down by ratepayers, a situation blamed on the prevailing economic hardships in the country.

The mining town has potential for exponential growth thanks to it its location in an area that has precious minerals such as gold, platinum and emeralds among others.