MIDWEEK REPORTER
MASVINGO-Bikita Minerals has organized the first media tour since the multimillion-dollar takeover of the top lithium producer by a Chinese listed company.
Tomorrow’s tour comes hot on the heels of an investigative piece in partnership with the Information for Development Trust which came out in a weekly publication where the lithium producer’s new Chinese owners stand accused of trampling on workers’ rights.
Sinomine bought the top lithium producer for US$180m in January 2022 and poured in US$300m investment to revamp operations as the miner was on verge of collapse due to a combination of factors among them COVID-19 forced closure.
The handover ceremony was attended by President Mnangagwa who hailed the new owners for the massive investment into the white gold which is mainly used in the manufacture of rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras and electric vehicles.
The media tour will begin at 9am with the Mine Manager, David Mwanza taking journalists through the miner’s production and growth from the time the Chines took over.
Mwanza will also talk about the company’s corporate social responsibility and staff welfare programs.
The finance manager, Amanda Makausi will also talk to the members of the fourth estate on the revenue flows of the giant miner in Bikita and taxation in the mining industry.
The journalists will also have an opportunity to tour the petalite plant which is being extended and the spodumene plant.
As part of the company’s CSR the journalist will also be taken to Shumbaimwe Clinic which was built by the lithium miner for the Bikita community.
