Tebekwe mine in huge strides to boost morale of workers

Tebekwe gold mine in Shurugwi is making huge strides to boost morale of its hardworking workers and the surrounding community- tapping into surge of its production of the precious mineral.

Workers who gave testimonies to this publication about their welfare and morale at 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 home 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. All surface and underground workers are given food on a daily basis and when we go for our off days, the mine hires a shuttle bus for us and remaining families get food hampers as well,” he said.

The mine is contributing at least four kilograms of gold to national gold buyer Fidelity making its production is in line with Government’s drive to turn around the mining industry as it is major game changer to sustainable economic growth and the country’s GDP as Zimbabwe moves towards an upper middle class nation by 2030 in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision.

Videographic images obtained by this publication showed the workers mixing and mingling with their boss Professor Smelly Dube in a jovial atmosphere marked by pomp and fanfare.

“We do that often as Prof Dube prefers to have an open door and down to earth approach for us her workers,” said a Tebekwe mine worker.

In pursuing the goal of boosting morale for workers, last December Tebekwe mine threw a surprise Christmas braai party for the whole group.

On that day, the mine Directors Prof Smelly Dube and her husband Engineer Dr Mncedisi Dube gave Certificates of Appreciation and gifts to hardest working workers 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 for the Rivervalley Group of Companies.

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.

About 300 families in the vicinity of the mine are benefiting from the proceeds accrued by the mine while women are given working spaces to also mine gold and improve their lives.

Last week, Tebekwe mine harvested acclaims from the Joint Parliamentary Portfolio Committees on Mines, Mining Development and Thematic Committee on Gender and Development over these immense contributions in uplifting the Shurugwi community especially women in its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

The joint committee convened a public hearing at the plant to conduct an inquiry into the access of women, youths, and persons with disabilities to the mining value chain in the province.
The team toured the mine and was briefed on the mine’s operations, challenges, and contributions to the national economy.

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
Tebekwe mine is currently milling an average 124 tonnes of gold ore in 24 hours using hammer mills.

By December last year, there were eight hammer mills and the mine plannned to place two more to make them 10 and add to several seperators at the plant.

There are unique designs so that they are able to monitor the production.
Again, there is also a three stamp mill and a bore mill which are working to push up production.

The gold sector is showing sturdiness with contributions from mines like Tebekwe mine pushing a significant growth in deliveries to Fidelity Refinery.

According to statistics that impressed last year, the gold delivered in the first seven months totalled 17,2 tonnes as the country raced 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 that was subsequently achieved and this year Tebekwe mine is on course to make significant deliveries and also continue to plough back to its community in Shurugwi where its workers are on cloud nine due to high morale.