Increased Gold Production At Tebekwe Mine Changing Lives In Shurugwi

Staff Writer

Tebekwe gold mine in Shurugwi has doubled its gold production in the past three years while the community of about 300 families is benefiting from the proceeds accrued by the mine with workers testifying that the wages they get are transforming their lives.

The mine is contributing at least four kilograms of gold to Fidelity every month. This is contributing significantly to the national gold output while also transforming lives of the local community where over 400 families are being taken care of through formal employment.
The production is in line with Government’s drive to turn around the mining industry as it is a major contributer to sustainable economic growth and the country’s GDP as we move towards an upper middle class nation by 2030 in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision.

Professor Smelly Dube, the Mine Director while speaking at a Christmas party held for workers and the community, said production levels of gold is going up. “We are milling 124 tonnes of gold ore in 24 hours using our hammer mills. There are currently eight hammer mills and we plan to place two more to make them 10. We also have several seperators in the plant. We have made our own designs so that we are able to monitor the production.
“We also have a three stamp mill and a bore mill which are working to push up production,” she said.

Workers who gave testimonies about their welfare being taken care of by the mine expressed great excitement.
“I was able to build a guest house at my compound this very year. A house that I do not use with family as we stay in another one. It was a big achievement that I made using proceeds from my wages I get at this mine. I also drilled a borehole at my homw in addition to that,” said one worker.

Another worker from Gokwe could not hide his joy. “I come from Gokwe South and there people now see the change in my life due to the descent wages that we are given at Tebekwe Mine” he said.

On that day, Prof Dube and her husband Engineer Dr Mncedisi Dube gave certificates and gifts to hardest working workers at the mine as appreciation for their services.Some of the workers given awards were elderly men who have worked for a long time spanning into several years.

The gifts included certificates, money and food hampers among others. The well organised event was also graced by Traditional Leaders from Shurugwi and Zvishavane with Chief Nhema, Chief Banga and Chief Mapanzure in attendance.

Gold is Zimbabwe’s single largest export earner while the mining industry accounts for more than 75 percent of the country’s annual shipments. In 2023, the Southern African nation produced 30,1 tonnes of the yellow metal while the Government has set a target of 40 tonnes for 2024 which may now be easily achieved looking at the contributions of Tebekwe mine alone.

Early this year the gold sector showed sturdiness, with a significant growth in deliveries to Fidelity Refinery in July being reported by government.

Gold deliveries surged by 33,5 percent to 3,5 tonnes in July from 2,6 tonnes in June attributable mainly to improved production by the artisanal and small-scale miners like Tebekwe mine.
According to statistics, the gold delivered in the first seven months of 2024 totalled 17,2 tonnes as the country races to attain the budgeted 35 tonnes by the end of year.

As of end of November 32 tonnes had been amassed leaving a balance of three tonnes.

In June, the cumulative deliveries to Fidelity was 13,78 tonnes which was a modest decrease from 14,1 tonnes attained in the comparable period last year.

There were concerns earlier on that large-scale miners had delivered 1,2 tonnes in July, representing a 15 percent growth from the preceding month.

Small-scale miners, who contribute 67 percent of Zimbabwe’s gold sales, delivered 2,34 tonnes in July, translating to a 45 percent surge from June, highlighting their centrality in the country’s gold production mainly in a turbulent operating environment.

At 7, 74 tonnes, second-quarter deliveries, were 28 percent ahead of the first quarter, but marginally lower than the 7, 98 tonnes delivered in the same period of 2023 confronted by a myriad of challenges encompassing funding and unrelenting power outages