The Sunday Mail
Edwin Mwase
About 13 years ago, all the economic activity in the mining towns of Zvishavane and Mashava, was wholly centred on the extraction of chrysotile fibre. Then around 2004 when asbestos production staggered, mining, the only known economic activity in the area, choked. With the only source of livelihood limping, most of the businesses in the settlement crashed as the parent company, the then Shabanie and Mashaba Mines (SMM), now the African Associated Mines (AAM), found continued operations unsustainable.
All appeared doomed. However, almost a decade-and-half later, there has been an economic boom. The academic sector has taken over as the major economic driver in the former asbestos-dominated economy.
Economic activity in Mashava and Zvishavane is now centred on the operations of the two universities, the Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) and the Midlands State University (MSU).
The MSU has stationed some of its faculties at buildings previously owned by the asbestos giant, while the GZU also has some of its faculties at Gaths Mine in Mashava.
The two universities negotiated 20 to 25-year renewable leases for the occupation of the buildings.
Two universities’ moves have changed the economic trajectory of the two towns. “In place of the minerals, books are now levers of our economy,” says the Member of Parliament for Masvingo West, Honourable Ezra Chadzamira, whose constituency incorporates the Great Zimbabwe University Mashava campus.
Hon Chadzamira said he is also pursuing possible solutions to the problems bedevilling Shabanie and Mashaba Mines and he has taken up the matter with the relevant Government authorities.
However, he said the entrance of the GZU has provided solutions to numerous problems brought about by the downscaling of operations at the respective mines.
A businessman in Mashava, Mr Trust Muganji, said everyone is now strategically positioning themselves so that they can benefit financially, either directly or indirectly, from the universities.
“Every business, formal or informal, has directed efforts towards creating a business relationship of some sort with the college students,” said the entrepreneur, whose business interests have been expanding as a result of the overwhelming business.
Mr Muganji said apart from retailing and providing accommodation, the transport and leisure sectors are equally recording a boom.
An informal trader said, “Even the mine workers have not been left behind with the university craze, they have been sub-letting their houses to students who opt not to reside at the campus. Everything, from airtime vending to other informal vending businesses, has recorded a boom. This place nearly became a ghost town.”
Economist Ms Tatenda Chingombe said the development shows the flexibility of the local economy.
“It is very normal that another economic commodity has just taken over as the end to the means which shows the elasticity of the economy,” she said.
Ms Chingombe said the minerals cannot be exhausted if they are lying dormant and can always be exploited at the opportune time, when funds for recapitalisation are eventually sourced.
Regrettably, those advocating for the resumption of mining see the entrance of the two universities into the whole equation as the closing chapter to the mining.
“It’s illogical to build a university on top of precious stones,” complained an ex-mine worker, Maida Jaya.
Another worker, Limbani Yeppe said, “We want our picks and shovels back, not books . . . our mine, not a university.” They want assurances that full-scale mining operations will resume and that their monies, owed by the mine, will be paid.
African Associated Mines (AAM) managing director, Chirandu Dyembeu, said they had only leased non-utility buildings to the respective universities.
“We haven’t ceased operations as yet and we are on course to recapitalise,” he said, without elaborating any further, referring further questions to the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC).
Besides mining, Shabanie and Mashaba were centres of sports, arts and culture; social aspects that are now neglected.
“Many downstream economic activities have been abandoned in the transition to academic excellence,” complained former sprint champion, Gaths Mine footballer and now athletics coach, Edson “Chipolopolo” Ngwenya.
In the sporting arena, both towns of Zvishavane and Mashava had a vibrant sporting legacy, which churned out international stars such as former national soccer team captain, Francis Shonhayi, and national long distance champion Zephaniah Ncube.
On the music arena, the famous Devera Ngwena Jazz Band, was born in Mashava.
