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By Clayton Masekesa
ODZI – The new kid on the block, Ming-Chang Sino Africa Investments, which is doing open-cast gold mining in Odzi, has changed the lives of residents and villagers through various developmental initiatives.
Opened in June 2022, Ming-Chang Sino Africa Investments has already shown their serious development intentions by rehabilitating the Odzi-Save Causeway Road which had remained almost impassable for years, to make it into a well-refurbished highway.
The 57km road was re-gravelled and widened and it will link Odzi and Mutare North where other gold miners, farmers, and the general public will access markets in Mutare and Harare.
The road is earmarked to be used as a Christmas bypass road for heavy-duty trucks.
The road has left the users captivated, as they never thought that it will be back in good shape again.
“My business is booming. I am a taxi driver and we are happy that the new road has given us business,” said Fero Mugadaire a mushikashika (pirate taxi) driver.
Many transport operators who had since shunned the road are now back in business.
The company employs over 50 workers, all from the Odzi community, and is looking forward to employing 60 more from the local area.
Ming Chang Sino Africa Investments has already constructed the Voiri dam where various members of the community with their livestock are directly benefitting.
The company is looking forward to sinking three 20-horse power boreholes for the community.
In an interview on the sidelines of a media tour held recently, Lui Xialong who is part of top management at the company said: “Corporate Social Responsibility forms part of our main strategic pillars as an organization. Ming Chang Sino Africa Investments holds in high regard, the balance between, community, nation, and corporate stakeholder interests in the execution of its business.”
But, Liu, expressed concern over a smearing campaign agenda by some sections of the media and some human rights organisations.
“They always smear us. They always create fake news that is very malicious. We now know their agenda and some of them are being paid to write negative about us, but, now we are glad that you are here and you have seen it for yourself,” said Liu.
“We are your friends and good people. We are already working with the local communities and this the time to work together to uplift their lives,” he said.
Mine manager, Brasel Mutemazano, said all the company’s operations were above board.
“We abide and are governed by the labour rules and regulations governing gold mining in Zimbabwe. Our workers work the normal working eight hours per day and we have proof of that. We also provide them with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and First Aid Kits as required. There were also unfounded and shameless reports claiming that our employment contracts are in Chinese, the truth of the matter is that the contracts are in both English and Chinese. We have signed documentation to that effect,” he said.
Indeed, this publication has copies of all documentation.
“We treat each other as a family here. The same beds and cabins that the top managers sleep on are the same as the general workers on. Those that are willing to have the Chinese dishes are free and they are given the local food to prepare for their own food,” said Mutemazano.
The Ming Chang Sino Africa Investments gold mining project is a motivation to many in the Odzi community. The success it has brought so far shines every day as the beneficiaries have become a light for others in this long-forgotten community.