HLB partners Mining Company for construction of Library

HWANGE- Hwange Local board has partnered South Mining Private Limited in the construction of a state-of-the-art library at an estimated cost of US$ 100 000 as part of its efforts to improve education standards in the district.

HLB Chairperson, Councillor Nqobile Ocean Mabhena said construction of the public library was one of the local authority’s drive of creating strategic synergies with private players to ensure development in its area of jurisdiction.

“We entered into public-private partnership arrangement with South Mining for the construction of a library. Owing to the economic challenges being faced in the country, council is currently financially constrained to carry out some of the projects using its own resources. Thus we have to resort to alternative models of funding to embark on some of the projects and one such way is venturing into partnerships with private players,” he said.

Councillor Mabhena said the Library is expected to be a highly technologically modern facility.

” The library won’t be your traditional type of library filled with stacks of books only, it will also consist of electronic resources such as computers and WI-FI, encouraging users to do more in terms of research.  Over and above all we expect it to be a relational library where people meet and interact “, he said.

He added that, “Hwange District has always had the highest pass rate in the province but there is a need to improve it nationally and i believe this library can play a part in that.”

Austin Ndlovu, a resident, expressed his excitement at the news and urged council to see to it that this project comes to fruition. 

“I am elated to hear that there is such a plan to uplift our children’s education. A state-of-the-art library is long overdue for this community.

Council should ensure that this project sees the light of day and is duly completed,” said Ndlovu.

South Mining representative Mr Charles Muchabaiwa said construction of the public library at Empumalanga high density suburb was expected to be completed before the end of the year.

He said the move was part of the  coke processing company’s Corporate Social Responsibility.

“We are looking at investing about US$100 000 towards construction of an upmarket library including purchasing of other related ancillary equipment to be used there such as computers and furniture.

Construction of the Library is one of many ways of ploughing back to the community from which we operate,” said Muchabaiwa.