LAFARGE Cement Zimbabwe on Tuesday handed over 10 homesteads worth $350 000 to families relocated to Bimi Farm in Murewa from Mtawatawa in Mashonaland East.
SENIOR REPORTER
The families had been staying close to the company’s limestone quarry mine. Each homestead consists of a modern three-bedroomed house, a traditional thatched hut and a blair toilet which Lafarge valued at $35 000 each.
Some 28 families were affected by the firm’s mining operations, but only 10 families have been moved so far.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, LaFarge Cement finance and administration director Farai Matanhire said the relocations had been necessitated by an Environmental Impact Assessment carried out at the limestone quarry.
“As some of you have come to appreciate, LaFarge Cement Zimbabwe operates the Mbubu Limestone Quarry in Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe. Since the commissioning of these operations in 2005, there has been careful consideration of both the social and environmental impact,” Matanhire said.
“Consequently 28 families are affected by the mining operations. When we say affected in this regard, we are focusing on the fact that their dwellings and grazing land are located within the Mine Plan which has led to the need to relocate these families.”
