The Sunday Mail
Tendai Chara
ZVISHAVANE, known until 1983 as Shabani, is a mining town in Midlands province.
Sitting on the Great Dyke, which contains one of the world’s largest known mineral reserves, Zvishavane is surrounded by low hills.
Historians maintain that the town’s name was derived from “zvikomo zvishava”, which means “red hills” in reference to the red soil of the surrounding hills.
Students from Platinum Park await transport to school
Located some 97km west of Masvingo on the Masvingo-Bulawayo road, two major roads link the town with Gweru, about 121km to the north, and with Mberengwa, 27km southwest.
Developing as a residential centre for an asbestos mine which started operations in 1916, Zvishavane was granted municipal status in 1968.
For visitors driving in from Gweru, there is one aspect that they will never fail to pass a remark on: the affluent Platinum Park which is clearly visible from the main road.
Squalor . . . a house in Maglas
Owned by the Mimosa Mining Company, the suburb is one of the most remarkable residential projects undertaken by a mining house in recent years.
The completion of Platinum Park has put two of Zvishavane’s biggest mining companies — Mimosa and Shabanie Mine — in the spotlight, albeit for very different reasons.
In this tale of contrasting fortunes, the platinum-mining Mimosa is evidently doing well whilst the asbestos-producing Shabanie Mine is in a coma.
Recently, The Sunday Mail Extra visited the mining town.
One notable disparity is the manner in which the two companies provide housing and other basic amenities to their workers.
Although Mimosa and Shabanie Mine workers live in the same neighbourhood, the former live in decent houses with the latter living in squalor.
Affluent . . . houses in Platinum Park
Opulence is written all over Platinum Park, with large, well-secured houses with beautifully manicured lawns. Some of the large houses remind the observer of fashionable summer resorts. Top-of-the range vehicles fill driveways. The people here do not know what potholes are.
In contrast, the majority of houses owned by Shabanie Mine have been neglected and have developed cracks.
In the sprawling Maglas and Kandodo suburbs, owned by Shabanie Mine, poverty is apparent.
Maglas and Kandodo are typical ghettos, complete with such indicators as overpopulation, overflowing sewage, bad roads and high crime rates.
Uncollected garbage is strewn all over the suburbs.
Shabanie Mine also lags behind in the provision of social amenities to its workers.
Platinum Football Club, owned by Mimosa, is one of the Premier League’s best-sponsored teams.
Matches involving the side are often colourful occasions, attracting hundreds of loyal local supporters.
Mandava Stadium, the club’s home ground, is a modern facility which can be used as a venue for major sporting events.
On the other hand, Shabanie Mine Football Club is poorly-funded and now plays in the Central Region Division One League.
The Shabanie Mine players have not been paid in a long time. Some of them live in a dilapidated guest house which looks more like a farm barn.
Maglas Stadium, the Shabanie Mine FC home ground, is dilapidated and has overgrown grass.
It is generally known that Mimosa Mine workers are well-paid and Shabanie Mine workers often express their desire to cross over.
“I am keeping my fingers crossed. I sent an application for employment as a security guard and was interviewed. Only if I could get that job,” said a wistful Shabanie Mine worker who requested anonymity.
According to him, a security guard at Mimosa is getting US$320 against US$70 at Shabanie and even this only paid “when the funds are available”.
According to the workers, the Zimbabwe Mining Development Company has recommended that the lowest worker get a minimum salary of US$180.
Less than 300 of Shabanie’s 1 108 workers are coming to work with the rest on unpaid leave.
As Mimosa workers live well, some of their Shabanie counterparts are digging up the local graveyard in search of gold.
Some even do menial jobs for Mimosa Mine workers, while others are making a living by selling chickens.
“We have left everything in the hands of God. We have struggled for a long time with no solution in sight,” a Shabanie Mine worker says.
Mr Joel Masuku, secretary-general of the Shabanie Mine workers committee, could not be drawn into commenting on the state of affairs; and management had not responded to questions sent to them by the time of going to print.
Before the arrival of Mimosa, Zvishavane was clearly going through a process urban decay.
Also known as urban rot, this is when a previously functioning city, or part of a city, falls into disrepair. Buildings deteriorate and decay due to neglect.
Kandodo Beer-hall, for example, was once a prominent feature on the social scene. It fell apart.
The beer hall was at least recently converted into a secondary school.
The situation has greatly improved since Midlands State University opened a campus in the town.
