The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndhlovu, has commissioned the newly rehabilitated Gungwe Dam in Gwanda, describing the US$316,667 project as a major milestone in strengthening partnerships between Government, mining companies, and local communities.
Rehabilitated through funding from the Gwanda Community Economic Empowerment Trust, the dam has a storage capacity of 800,000m³ and is expected to supply clean water to more than 3,000 households.
Officials say the project will support irrigation schemes, livestock production, fisheries, and tourism activities in the drought-prone Matabeleland South district.
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Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Ndhlovu said the project demonstrates “the power of inclusive and broad-based empowerment,” emphasising that communities must remain central beneficiaries of local mineral resources.
He commended PPC Zimbabwe and Blanket Mine for what he called exemplary corporate citizenship.
PPC has injected US$2 million into community development through its Special Trust, while dividends from Gwanda CEET’s 10% shareholding in Blanket Mine have reached US$12.6 million to date, funding several local projects.
Ndhlovu also announced that Government has approved a new framework to revitalise Community Trusts, now rebranded as Community Economic Empowerment Trusts.
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