One of Zimbabwe's leading mining and exploration groups, Clarity Group has entered into a partnership with the Bubi Small Scale Miners Association (BSSMA) to develop eco-friendly milling projects in Matabeleland North.

This is the first such project by the Group to economically empower small scale miners in Zimbabwe. The project is part of the company's social investment programme whose core thrust is to uplift the living standards of disadvantaged communities.

Clarity Group comprising -- Duration Gold, Whetstone Minerals - will make an initial investment of $150 000 to develop a milling project under a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model with BSSMA. Construction of the first of two Eco milling projects is expected to begin immediately.

The Eco-milling project is being officially launched on May 8 2011 at Queens Shopping Centre, 35 km north of Bulawayo. Member of Parliament, Hon. Clement Sibanda, will be the Guest of Honour at the launch to be attended by small scale miners, traditional leaders, representatives from the mining industry and officials from government departments and agencies.

The project will provide small scale miners with a safe, fair and environmentally responsible ways to process their gold.  This project is founded on eco friendly principles one of which is the exclusion of mercury from the process and the project will help raise awareness on this.

"The launch of this project is part of the strategy of the Clarity Group to use its expertise to boost economic growth and small business creation in Zimbabwe's rural communities." said Clarity Group, Executive Chairman, Allan Dolan. "The Bubi Small Scale Miners Association (BSSMA) is a good partner because they have local membership and they are committed to uplifting local people through an association formed and managed by local people."

Under the BOOT model, the Clarity Group will develop and equip the project with a stamp mill. BSMA members and the local community will be trained in strengthening their business skills to run small local enterprise through the Zimbabwe Opportunity Industrialization Centers (ZOIC). ZOIC, a community capacity building organization with interests in rural investment and capacity building will work with BSSMA on the development of their business plan.

"We value entrepreneurial innovation, and it is our generally accepted view that, the world over, prudent economies create their own wealth and sustain their own development," said ZOIC Executive Director, Phillip Bohwasi. "BSSMA has an opportunity to show the world that they can spearhead their own development from Bubi district using local resources in mining and other areas.

The project is anticipated to be handed over to BSSMA through an agreed empowerment vehicle such as a community trust after an adequate training period and after achieving certain milestones.

BSSMA Chairman, Job Ngwenya, welcomed the launch of the project, which he said was an important development for the small scale miners and the community of Bubi District.

BSSMA was formed in 2004 as the voice of small scale miners in terms of capacity building, skills training and economic empowerment. Currently, the Association has over 60 members under its five membership zones in the District.

"For us the project is the first step towards empowering local people to benefit from the mining industry in line with government's indigenization policy," said Ngwenya. "We are confident this partnership will yield benefits in the development of skills for our members through the investment by the Clarity Group in the district which needs investment and employment opportunities."

For further information and interviews, please contact:

Busani Bafana

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Email: bafana@netconnect.co.zw