By Thomas Chidamba
Platinum mining giant, Mimosa, has changed the narrative of different communities through their various social responsibility interventions that have seen different communities and organisations benefiting.
Through their social responsibility interventions, Mimosa, has ploughed back to various schools, health institutions, empowered small scale miners, and assisted in the conservation of environment and provision of potable water and sanitation.
Mimosa’s vision is to uplift society by investing beyond mining through engaging in corporate social responsibility programmes.
“Mimosa corporate social responsibility programmes started to take a strategic perspective in the 1990s. Since then, we have employed a profound history of partnerships with communities through our vibrant corporate social responsibility policy.
“Under this policy, numerous local and national community projects have been founded in key utilities such as education, health, the environment, infrastructure and provision of clean water.
“Mimosa is cognisant of the finite nature of the mineral resource it exploits ,and thus, we desire to establish sustainable projects that will last long after platinum mines are exhausted.Â
“This thrust, underpinned by our vision of investing beyond mining , has seen us engage in a number of projects across sectors,” said the company.
Mimosa constructed and commissioned a new classroom block at Mtshingwe Primary School in Zvishavane.
Before Mimosa’s intervention, pupils at Mtshingwe Primary School used to learn in thatched pole and dagga makeshift classrooms.
The timely intervention helped the school to improve, not only its aesthetic outlook, but even pass rate, which rose from 5% to 89%.
Also, Mimosa constructed two classroom blocks, an administration block, donated text books, furniture and installed a water reticulation system at Mkwidzi Secondary School.
Mimosa has also improved the infrastructure at Zimbabwe School of Mines, University of Zimbabwe, Midlands State University, Great Zimbabwe University, Zvishavane Vacational Training Centre, Shabani Primary School, Wedza Primary, Makwasha Primary, Dadaya Primary and Riverton Academy.
“As an organisation that firmly believes in education being the underpinning factor of any real economic growth, we have actively participated in the construction and refurbishment of several primary and secondary schools countrywide using mostly indigenous suppliers.
“Over and above, programmes targeted at primary and secondary education, Mimosa participates in institutional development through supporting various tertiary establishment.
“Support rendered has been in the form of adminstrative equipment, learning aids, comprehensive scholarship programmes, as well as infrastructural development,” added the platinum mining company.
Mimosa also refurbished and donated laundry, as well as other health care equipment at Harare Central Hospital, Chitungwiza Hospital, Mpilo Hospital, Ingutsheni Psychiatric Hospital, Mhondongori Clinic and Matenda Clinic.
“Envisioning a healthy nation, Mimosa priorities health intervention, as it is a vital sector in our economy.
“It is an important line item on the world human development index against which a country’s well being is judged.
“Investments include the provision of equipment, refurbishment of institutions at both national and local level, as well as the running of an on going wellness programme which benefits our employees, their families and entire community.”
At Harare Central Hospital, Mimosa refurbished the nurses’ accommodation facilities, purchased laundry equipment and furniture.
Mimosa constructed a state of the art mortuary, complete with the requisite equipment, refurbished the maternity, children, male and female wards, purchased industrial washing machines, as well as refurbished nurses living quarters at Zvishavane District Hospital.
At St Giles Centre, Mimosa refurbished the laundry room and wards, and donated equipment for use in rehabilitation
St Giles’ importance to the wellbeing of the nation cannot be overemphasised.
“Its work of rehabilitating the handicapped by assisting post stroke, major accident or brain injury patients to regain their motor skills and use of limbs that would have been rendered inactive, requires specialised rehabilitation.
“Through our long standing relationship with St Giles, we have, over the years, presided over a number of projects at the institution.”
Mimosa sponsored the first renal transplantation programme in Zimbabwe and is currently sponsoring the training of experts at Chitungwiza hospital.
“By being involved in this medical milestone, it is our hope many patients with renal failure will get the required treatment.”
Also, Mimosa has been at the forefront in the campaign for preservation of the environment, and provision of clean water and sanitation.
In 2012, Mimosa launched the ‘Let’s Go Zero safety/ Environmental’ campaign aimed at mobilising stakeholder support on the basis of shared local national goals.
In combating widespread deforestation, Mimosa, in collaboration with Friends of the Environment, Environmental Management Authority (EMA) and the Forestry Commission, established a nursery, which acts as a referral for seedlings and creating a culture of planting trees at Mtshingwe Primary School.
“Widespread deforestation had turned out to be the chief ecological tragedy of all times, and Zimbabwe has not been spared.
“The nursery produces seedlings, which then serve as a referral point for all tree, garden plants and herbs in the province, as well as knowledge dissemination to communities.
“The centre has cultivated a positive culture of the planting and conservation of trees in our communities, inline with Mimosa’s focus towards sustainable community projects, with a lasting legacy that will continue to be felt even when mineral resources are exhausted.
“Mimosa has also donated fruit trees for traditional leaders’ orchards in the local community. The initiative is aimed at enhancing food security and nutrition in local communities while also aiding in the aesthetic value of the environment.”
Mimosa also supports local small scale miners by supplying them with mining equipment.
