Sandawana Mine is relocating 104 families to pave the way for the construction of a US$300 million processing plant, with completion of the new homes expected by the end of September.
The relocation programme has received the approval and support of traditional leaders, who recently inspected seven model houses constructed for the affected families.
Each household will receive a four-roomed house, a separate modern round kitchen, fencing, access to running water and farming land.
Speaking after touring the newly constructed houses in Mberengwa, Mutapa Energy Resources (MER) chief executive officer Innocent Rukweza said the company wanted traditional leaders and government stakeholders to assess the model houses before construction of the remaining homes begins.
“We are relocating 104 families into various spaces and we have got support from churches in the surrounding area around Sandawana.
“If they are happy with those houses and units, we can then finalise other houses. We are targeting 20 September, about the end of September, to finalise all the 104 houses.”
Rukweza put the approximate cost of the relocation package at US$28,000 per household, covering the house and kitchen facilities.
The company will also have to exhume 52 graves located within the area earmarked for the processing plant before land clearing and construction can begin.
Rukweza said the company was awaiting outstanding burial orders and expected to begin the exhumation process during the first week of September.
“Once we do that, then I think land clearing will start,” he said.
Rukweza also said the company remained on course to have its lithium processing plant commissioned by November 2027.
As part of preparations for the project, MER has also appointed contractors to undertake road and bridge works aimed at improving access to Sandawana.
Meanwhile, the company says it intends to cushion communities affected by the relocation through various empowerment programmes.
“We have got 82 cows, which we want to get to the communities that have given us land, so that at least we start a project where we try and upgrade the head and that way we also give them a skill set to manage.
“We want to ensure that we empower the community,” he added.
Local MP Tafanana Zhou welcomed the developments, saying the area was now witnessing projects that had previously remained elusive.
“We want to appreciate the work that has been done by the government and Mutapa Energy Resources. We are seeing the developments which were not happening before.
“We have seen state-of-the-art houses which have been constructed by the mine, which is a positive development to the community.”
Zhou also commended the road construction underway in the area, saying improved connectivity would create opportunities for further development.
“We saw a road being constructed by three reputable companies, Masimba, SM and Fossil and we want to appreciate the work that has been done by them. The road construction will ease traffic of the people from the district and massive development will follow,” he said.
Chief Bvute also welcomed the road project, saying the community had long desired an improved road network.
“It has always been our wish that our road gets constructed and we are happy to say that God heard us through this company,” the traditional leader said.
He said the poor state of the road had caused dust pollution and damaged vehicles, making the upgrade particularly important to the community.
“As the leaders of this community, we thank you a lot and appreciate what you have done for us,” Chief Bvute said.
Meanwhile, the relocation programme will extend beyond households, with a primary school, clinic and police station also set to be moved from the area earmarked for the project.
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