Bikita Minerals’ CSR Initiative Yields Positive Results in Masvingo Schools
Bikita Minerals has been making a significant impact in the lives of hundreds of schoolchildren through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) school feeding program. The program, which was launched in 2022, provides nutritious meals to pupils in the province some namely Bikita Minerals Primary School, Domboshava Primary School, Rusununguko Primary School, Marinda Primary School, Mandindi Primary School, Beardmore Primary School, Makotore Primary School, and Mungezi Primary School. School administrators have reported a significant increase in attendance and admission rates since the introduction of the feeding program. “We’ve seen a notable improvement in pupil attendance and admission rates,” said The Headmaster of Bikita Minerals Primary School. “Pupils are now more motivated to come to school, knowing they’ll receive a nutritious meal.” The feeding program has also had a positive impact on the health and well-being of the pupils. “We’ve noticed a significant reduction in cases of malnutrition and related illnesses,” said Mr Mungoni teacher at Rusununguko Primary School. “Pupils are now more energetic and focused, which has improved their academic performance.” Bikita Minerals Public Relations and Corporate Responsibility officer, Collen Nikisi revealed plans to integrate modes schools from the district. “The school feeding program is now its fifth year running and our target is to increase the number of schools from the current 10. “At present we are carrying out assessments In the district with the aim of alleviating Short term hunger, increasing school enrolment, pass rates, reducing school drop outs and absenteeism in schools,” Collen Nikisi According to statistics gleaned from the Bikita District Education Office, the schools benefiting from the program have recorded an average attendance rate of 90%, up from 70% before the program’s introduction. Enrolment rates have also increased, with a 20% rise in new enrollments. The Bikita Minerals CSR school feeding program is a significant investment in the education and health of schoolchildren. With over 500,000 meals provided annually, the program is making a tangible difference in the lives of hundreds of young people.
Breast Cancer Awareness at Bikita Minerals
October is the Breast Cancer Awareness month worldwide and Bikita Minerals, joined the rest of the world in the commemorations in a move to educate, persuade people on the importance of early screening for Breast cancer. Over 500 women and men were screened for Breast cancer by Dr Thalia Mungwari and Dr Sydney Mukonoweshuro. The Bikita community appreciated the move by the company and believes that it will go a long way in reducing breast cancer deaths.
Masvingo Minister of Provincial Affairs Chadzamira officially opened Bikita Minerals US$1 million clinic
Masvingo Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution Hon Chadzamira officially opened Bikita Minerals US$1 million clinic. Bikita Minerals state of the art US$1 million clinic was officially opened by Masvingo Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution Hon Chadzamira. “The commissioning of this clinic points to good corporate social responsibility, we encourage companies to support government’s vision of ensuring an upper middle-income society by 2030.This clinic will add on to the 28 existing health care centers in Bikita District hence it is a milestone worth celebrating, “he said. Bikita Minerals Managing Director Mr. Xuedong Gong said the company embarked on the project after realising that the old clinic could no longer meet the current health demands of the mine. “We invested over US$1 million in the construction and procurement requirements for the clinic,”Mr Gong said. The clinic has the X-ray control room, spirometry room, audiometry, cardiovascular, vision screener, theatre, operation and consultation rooms, observation rooms, private wards, doctors and nurses’ offices, conference room, labour ward, male and female casualty, treatment room, dispensary and laundry room. Mr Gong said the mine has been investing in various environmental and social governance issues in the community that include education, drilling of 33 boreholes, road rehabilitation, power generation and empowerment through Chief Marozva community funds.
Community Victory: The story of Chief Marozva Bikita Minerals Sports Tournament
It was a crisp autumn afternoon when the Chief Marozva Bikita Minerals Tournament kicked off in a small growth point that had seen better days. Sponsored by Bikita Minerals, this is a flagship event, something the community look forward to every year. With 12 teams participating for the trophy in the soccer discipline, Bikita Minerals won by 2 goals to nil in a heated final against Bikita Rulers, the Chief’s team. Six teams also participated under the netball discipline, with Bikita Minerals also scooping gold in the final against Gombo. Participants, stakeholders and community leaders however expressed the smooth running of the tournament as a ‘community victory’. “I am happy! When we come for this tournament, everyone walks away with something making all participants winners. The major victory however is a whole community gathering to fight social ills as drug abuse. “On the same platform, people discuss challenges and find solutions to these in an informal set up. I am happy on the how this tournament has managed unite the community,” said Chief Marozva born Ishmael Mudhe. Added Bikita West member of parliament, Danny Makusha, “…this is a great initiative that brings us together as one family. We however urge the mine to continue investing in sporting initiatives. Victory: More Than Just a Trophy Winner walked away with trophies, medals and prize money. However, as the ceremony closed down, the community had earned something much greater, ‘unity’ as expressed by Bikita Minerals spokesperson, Collen Nikisi. “The community had become one. The celebration was electric. The players, soaked in sweat and smiles, lifted the trophy together and presented it to the custodians of the tournament; the community,” he added. The tournaments’ story is no longer just about football. It is about perseverance, teamwork, and unity,” he further said. “We love to see the community smile to such initiatives because our success is bestowed on them. We remain committed to supporting the Bikita community, added Bikita Minerals Vice General Manager Rongfu Jiang. Running for the ninth year, Chief Marozva tournament also aims at encouraging good sportsmanship in the community as well as nurture talent among the youth.
School feeding programme impacting positively on pupils in schools
Bikita minerals, through its corporate social responsibility programs, has taken a commendable step by initiating a robust school feeding program. Approximately 8000 pupils from eight primary schools in Bikita and one primary school in Gutu are currently benefitting from the program. The school feeding program has been running for the past 5 years and every school term the mine provides maheu to primary school children. For some children, attending school is not just an opportunity to learn, but also their only chance to have a meal and probably the only meal of the day. It is for this reason that beneficiaries of school feeding programs in Bikita have praised the program. Eleven-year-old Margaret Mutiga, a student at Beardmore Primary, is one of the many children benefiting from school feeding program. Margaret explained that just like other children at her school she was happy to be in school again as that accord gives her the opportunity to have a meal as well as get an education. And Margaret’s mother Judith Mutiga explained that many parents in the district were happy with the Lithium mine’s school feeding program as it helped to supplement struggling households’ dietary needs. “By providing nutritious meals, the program encourages children to attend school regularly. The maheu is also good for the children’s nutritional needs”, she said. Beardmore Primary school headmaster, Mr Muzamani said school feeding programs facilitate children’s healthy growth and development as well as help improve concentration and educational performance in school even as children’s energy levels are improved. “Proper nutrition contributes to better cognitive development and learning outcomes. By investing in children’s education and well-being, the program aims to create a brighter future for the nation”, Muzamani explained. According to the United Nations World Food Programme, 66 million primary school-age children go hungry every day, with 23 million hungry children in Africa alone.
Scouring powder production empowers communities in Bikita
The donation of scouring powder by Bikita Minerals has empowered communities and assisted heavily in this drought year, said Chief Marozva. “We receive a total of 65 tonnes of scouring powder monthly from Bikita Minerals. The vim is shared equally by men and women. We are grateful for this kind of gesture, we know the company set aside time to produce the scouring powder for the community although it’s not their core operation,” he said. Chief Marozva said the sale of scouring powder was mainly being done by women, but we also have men in our community who also needed to be economically empowered hence the decision to have both females and males in the programme. “Once in a while we receive bulk random buyers of scouring powder, and this helps a lot as we have been using the proceeds from the sales to pay exam fees for orphans, pay salaries for clinic guards and currently we are building a classroom block for the students in the community, “he said. A lady from Chief Marozva’s community Mrs Jaricha, said the scouring powder enterprise has uplifted her life as she managed to pay fees for her children and acquire some livestock. Mrs Daphinite Basera said she went to university and now she is a teacher because of the sale of scouring powder. Mr Eddie Jaricha I am grateful because of the mining company which provides us with the scouring powder every week and our families are being sustained. “I managed to marry my wife because of this enterprise and our lives are much better than before and we remain grateful to Bikita Minerals,” he said. Bikita Minerals provide the community under Chief Marozva with 65 tonnes of scouring powder every month and a total of 100 families benefit directly from the donation. The initiative seeks to assist the communities to be independent economically, reduce poverty and to keep the youth busy so that they don’t end up engaging in drug abuse. This is one of the many projects that is being done by Bikita Minerals to uplift the livelihoods of the people in Bikita.
