Nourishing the Future: Bikita Minerals Enhances School Feeding Programme with 14-Tonnes Nutritious Donation
Staff Reporter BIKITA DISTRICT – Underscoring its deep commitment to community welfare, human capital development, and education, Bikita Minerals has successfully distributed 14,000 kilograms of Maheu nutritional supplements to 17 primary schools across the Bikita District. The extensive rollout, executed during the second term of 2026, represents a significant expansion of the company’s corporate social responsibility portfolio. By proactively addressing local economic vulnerabilities, the initiative aims to enhance classroom concentration, boost morning alertness, and ensure high student retention rates in rural schools. Since its launch in 2022, the supplementary nutrition initiative has scaled up remarkably. What began as a targeted program supporting 5,000 learners has doubled its impact over a four-year period. Today, the project safeguards the daily nutrition of nearly 10,000 pupils across the district. The latest expansion phase proudly welcomes Chigumisirwa Primary School into the program, further broadening the company’s socioeconomic footprint within the vulnerable communities surrounding its mining operations. School administrators and local leadership have reported immediate, measurable improvements since the rollout, citing stabilized classroom attendance patterns and vital financial relief for local households. Tsikirai Mudekunye, the headmaster of Bikita Minerals Primary School, noted that the consistent availability of the nutritional supplement has fundamentally transformed student attendance. He shared that since joining the initiative in its early phases, daily classroom attendance records have completely stabilized. Previously, absenteeism was a major hurdle to completing the syllabus on time, but the reliable morning supplement keeps children motivated to attend regularly. Mudekunye emphasized that the partnership serves as a vital structural support that directly complements national efforts to keep rural children in school. At Chigumisirwa Primary School, the newest beneficiary of the program, headmaster Mr. Gonese explained how the Maheu distribution perfectly complements the school’s existing sadza and beans feeding initiative. He observed a remarkable shift in pupil energy levels, noting that many learners previously walked long distances on empty stomachs, which severely hampered their concentration during early morning lessons. According to Gonese, the district-wide allocation provides a crucial safety net for vulnerable households, ensuring that no child misses classes or drops out due to hunger. Endorsing the initiative, Ward 12 Councillor Brighton Mushekwa commended the mining giant for directly addressing systemic challenges that impact the day-to-day welfare of rural learners. Mushekwa expressed gratitude for the company’s consistency, noting that proper nutrition is essential for effective learning and that by supporting local schools, Bikita Minerals is actively investing in the future of the community’s children. As a leading player in the resource extraction sector in Masvingo Province, Bikita Minerals remains highly conscious of its role within its host communities. The Maheu distribution program is intentionally structured to align with and amplify the Government’s ongoing national school feeding efforts. Moving forward, Bikita Minerals is dedicated to sustaining and growing this initiative as part of its long-term strategy to build resilient community frameworks and empower the next generation across the Bikita District.
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.
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.
Bikita Minerals opens community cinema
Cinema, often referred to as the “silver screen,” has been a powerful medium of entertainment and expression since its inception. Beyond the realm of entertainment, it has significantly impacted society, inspiring change, and shaping culture in profound ways. Last week Friday, Bikita Minerals successfully launched the Community CSR cinema initiative, with the first group of participants of over 200 students drawn from Bikita Minerals. Welcoming the development, Bikita Minerals Primary School Deputy Headmaster Anisto Tachiona said community cinema served as a mirror to society, reflecting its joys, struggles, and complexities. “Through films, we witness stories that resonate with our own experiences, making us feel connected and understood. It portrays diverse cultures, lifestyles, and issues, promoting good behavioral change and understanding” he said. Tachiwona believes the community cinema initiative will address social ills such as drug abuse and early child marriages. “As you might be aware we have Grade 7 students who recently finished writing their examinations, therefore the film initiative will keep them away from drugs and other social ills. “We urge the authorities to put more focus on films addressing social issues, shedding light on topics like reality checks of the country, poverty, child marriages, and drug abuses. Many movies have helped raise awareness and inspire change by depicting such ills,” he added. Bikita Minerals will every Friday screen movies at the Lithium community hall and plans underway to spread it to other village halls. Community cinema offer social and community benefits, as well as cultural and inclusive advantages.
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.
