Business Reporter
PROSPECT Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ) says a total US$1,3 million has been set aside for the implementation of projects aimed uplifting the Goromonzi Community in the year 2025 and beyond.
The life changing projects dubbed, Goromonzi Community Development Project, Launch Ceremony and Public Welfare Experience Day were launched at a function held recently at Vhuta Primary School in Goromonzi, Zimbabwe.
Project One under the initiative titled Health to Success” Community Health Enhancement Project, Raise awareness of epidemic prevention among local children, Teacher Training, Students Activities.
The second project, “Skill to Success”- Youth Vocational Project” is to empower the youth with hard skills to find a decent job. The activities enshrined under the initiative include Curriculum Development, Vocational training (welder,electrician,etc ) Apprenticeship and job matching activities.
The third project, “Weaving the future- Women Empowerment Project” objective is to empower the women with sewing skills and increase their income by securing sewing orders.
The activities enshrined include sewing skills training and establishing “Weaving the future” workshop while the fourth project , “Energy Equity to Success” which will roll out Community Electricity Equity Project.
The project’s objective is to support primary school students, small business enterprises, young entrepreneurs’ access green energy. The activities involved under the initiative include equipping primary schools with energy storage equipment , acquiring energy storage equipment and establishing the Youth Entrepreneurship Competition.
The forthcoming activities are over and above numerous generosity works already under way. Last year, PLZ rehabilitated about 22 kilometers of the Goromonzi –Kubatsirana road linking the Harare –Mutare highway.
Currently about 8km are under upgrading with the remaining 8km expected to be completed early 2025.
Haijun Zhu, general manager of Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe(PLZ) said the activities are guided by the company’s philosophy to contribute wherever it goes.
“Our corporate mission is ‘Wherever we invest, we must contribute to the local economy and society’. We are delighted to take the Goromonzi Community Development Project as an opportunity to collaborate with our Chinese investment partners in Zimbabwe. Together, we aim to explore a model of joint funding by Chinese enterprises to support the sustainable development of local communities,” the company’s boss said.
The initiative also effectively responds to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Zimbabwe’s vision to attain an upper-middle income economy by 2030, Huayou Cobalt’s Zimbabwean subsidiary Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe designed the Goromonzi Community Development Project.
Based on the “Sino-Africa Sustainable Community Development Platform” and initiated by the UN Global Compact (UNGC), Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ) partnered with Chinese enterprises investing in Africa, including Fosun, Hithium, Jack Technology, and Boke to implement four international development projects in Goromonzi.
Among the top dignitaries attending the event were the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Mashonaland East, Hon. Appolonia Munzverengwi Chief Chikwaka, Chief Chinyika of Chinyika Village in Goromonzi; Ding Zhou, Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe.
Sirak Gebrehiwot, UN Communications, Partnerships and Development Finance Advisor (Representing the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Zimbabwe and UN Global Compact) and Haijun Zhu, General Manager of Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe, among others.
