BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA
Clad in blue worksuits and matching safety shoes, the couple moves around their gold milling plant in deep rural Makosa, Mutoko, as they monitor their workers. The sweltering heat often associated with the area, close to the border with Mudzi district, could not deter them as they have become cosy with their new love — mining.
This is the story of the pioneers of Pentecostalism in Zimbabwe, Mathias and Mildred Madziwanzira, whose relocation to Mutoko some years ago has breathed life into the poverty-stricken area through the establishment of various projects that have changed the lives of beneficiaries for the better.
Being owners of MilMath Milling Company and the Ndemera MilMath Mining Syndicate claim, the couple has been injecting some proceeds into the community such that they have become the darlings of many villagers in the area.
This paper recently visited the milling plant where the company’s human resources manager Josphat Nyakudziwanza articulated how the couple has been assisting the villagers.
“The first thing M&M (Mathias and Mildred) did was to ensure provision of clean water in the area. We have drilled at least 18 boreholes in and around Makosa at the same time installing some reservoir tanks for the benefit of the people. In the Makaha area we also drilled two boreholes that are being used by the villagers,” he said.
Makaha is a gold-rich area that also habours a mining claim for the Madziwanziras.
Early this year, Zanu PF youths in Mashonaland East province recieved 50 goats from a project set to be rolled out to all the nine districts. A number of youths are set to benefit from the goat-rearing project that is being strongly supported by the ruling party.
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Nyakudziwanza said they have provided employment to the local youths at their company.
“About 80% of the workers are being hired from this area. We have at least 200 workers here including attachees from the School of Mines among other polytechnics. Those from outside this area will be providing special skills. We are also gender-sensitive as we have some females in the technical department,” said Nyakudziwanza.
The couple through their company have been doing road maintenance in the area and paying school fees for orphans among other things.
“Currently we are paying school fees for 21 vulnerable children at both Makosa primary and secondary schools. We provide building materials for schools that were affected by Cyclone Idai and others affected by weather phenomena like wind. The company also donates medicines at the local Makosa clinic as well as financing state functions for the benefit of the people around this area,” added Nyakudziwanza.
The skilled labour and technicians at the company have also been providing their expertise at local institutions like clinics, shops, schools and centres in the area.
“We have experts who we send into the area to solve some problems within our capacity. For example, we have plumbers and electricians, who assist in the area in times of need. The other thing is that we are constructing a house for the widow of the late Headman Makosa,” he said.
Meanwhile, the couple is relieved after government intervened in mining areas through Operation Chikorokoza Ngachipere that was established following the emergence of terror groups.
Before, the clerics were having running battles with gold panners in Makaha thereby stalling production at their mine.
Madziwanzira hailed government for rescuing the situation, saying they would soon hit their target of delivering 100kg of gold per month as they were set to massively invest at the site following the procurement of new mining equipment from China.
Some time back, gold panners chased away South African investors, who had visited the Makaha area.
Mathias and Midlred are one of the top gold remitters to Fidelity in Mashonaland East as shown by numerous certificates from government that hang on the walls of the couple’s house in Makosa.
Though they have been living a quiet life after relocating to Mutoko for business, the couple’s actions have been speaking louder as they have breathed life into this area through giving back to the community.
