BY BAYANDA NKATHA

Stakeholders from Nkayi District have gathered in Bulawayo for the inaugural Nkayi Diaspora Investment Indaba, which kicked off this Thursday morning at the Zimbabwe Art Gallery.

The event has drawn various stakeholders, including heads of government departments, traditional leaders, Diaspora-based business people, humanitarian organizations such as Amalima Loko and others.

The district is seeking to court investors for various projects and service delivery, with the aim of addressing the area’s marginalization and development challenges.

Nkayi is one of the districts that has lagged behind in terms of development, with its two major connecting roads – Bulawayo-Nkayi and Kwekwe-Nkayi-Lupane – deteriorating to an extent that driving has become a nightmare.

However, the district has huge potential, boasting vast natural resources, including rich agricultural soils, water, the upcoming Ziminya Dam, sand abstraction, timber, beekeeping, and more.

Its proximity to Gokwe, Lupane, Binga, and Kwekwe makes Nkayi a strategic market district.

BY BAYANDA NKATHA

The 2024 Mine Entra conference has officially kicked off in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, with President Emmerson Mnangagwa expected to officiate the event.

The conference is being held under the theme “Unearthing Success: The Mining Value Chains, Innovation, and Industrialisation Nexus” and is expected to be a significant event in the mining industry.

President Mnangagwa arrived in Bulawayo on Wednesday afternoon, after attending the burial of national hero Colonel (Retired) Tshinga Dube at the Heroes Acre in Harare.

Mines and Mining Development Minister, Winston Chitando, will lead the proceedings, with the President expected to address the conference.

The Chamber of Mines is also expected to provide a comprehensive update on the state of the mining sector.

The industry is optimistic about the future, with mineral revenue, employment levels, and capacity utilization projected to increase in 2025.

The Mining Industry Prospects for 2025 report shows that mining executives are confident about the sector’s prospects.

“Mineral revenue is expected to increase by approximately two percent in 2024 and by around 10 percent to approximately US$6 billion in 2025 from about US$5.5 billion in 2024 on the back of improved output and some anticipated commodity price recovery in 2025.”reads the report.

Average capacity utilization for the mining industry is expected to improve, driven by key sectors such as gold, ferrochrome, and PGMs.

Employment is also expected to rise, with mining industry formal employment expected to increase in 2025.

The mining sector has also recorded a decrease in fatalities since the beginning of the year, with a significant reduction in deaths compared to last year.

However, the survey results show that there is still a need for safety and health at mining operations.

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

In a bid to address the growing concern of human-wildlife conflict, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority yesterday shot down a problem elephant in Hwange.

The elephant had been terrorizing communities and destroying mango fruits, prompting concerns about the safety of locals.

Ingagula councillor Brian Chikumbo confirmed the shooting, saying, “We have been having some human-wildlife conflicts of late, whereby jumbos, more than four herds, have been coming into the community around 7 pm every day and even inside people’s houses. It had become unbearable, and very soon we could have recorded a fatality.”

Chikumbo emphasized the need for a lasting solution to address the growing concern of human-wildlife conflict in Zimbabwe.

“We just want a lasting solution because we fear that one day we might have a fatality as the numbers and teams are increasing every day.”

Background: Human-Wildlife Conflict in Zimbabwe

Human-wildlife conflict is a growing concern in Zimbabwe, with recent statistics showing a significant rise in incidents.

At least 200 people have been killed and several others injured, some permanently, since 2019.

The conflict is not limited to human casualties; livestock and crops have also been severely affected, with a 200 percent increase in crop damage and loss reported.