Mnangagwa relives poisoning ordeal

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday relived his food poisoning experience at a Zanu-PF campaign rally in Gwanda in 2017 and how he was airlifted to Gweru and later South Africa for urgent medication at the height of the ruling party's factional fights.

Addressing guests at the commissioning of Blanket Mine expansion project in Gwanda, Matabeleland South province, Mnangagwa jokingly said he was now stronger than he was before the poisoning incident.

Mnangagwa was allegedly poisoned in Gwanda during a presidential interface rally for former President Robert Mugabe in August 2017.

He had to be airlifted to the military hospital in Gweru amid claims that he was being targeted for being a threat to Mugabe.

"I came here for two occasions, the  commissioning of Blanket Mine expansion project and the commissioning of buses. I was poisoned here on August 6 2017, your vice-chairman as my senior officer he organised  a helicopter with the help of (Vice-President Constantino) Chiwenga and he wanted to take me to Harare and I refused and told him take me to Gweru," Mnangagwa said.

Mnangagwa yesterday urged mining houses to adopt new technologies to boost productivity as well as reduce the country's carbon footprint.

 "I challenge other mining houses to increase investments in their operations for the realisation of maximum value from our mineral resource base for the good of the economy and our people in general."

Mnangagwa said the collection of half of the royalties from minerals would be in the form of the physical stocks of the minerals concerned with effect from October 1, adding that the government would prioritise technology for the protection of the environment.

He said the policy would have ripple effects on currency stability.

"As government, we have made a bold decision to ensure that every citizen of Zimbabwe benefits from our rich resource endowment, now and into the future. Hence, from the 1st of October, the collection of half of the royalties from gold, diamonds, platinum and lithium, among other precious stones and valuable metals, shall be made in the form of the physical stocks of the mineral concerned," Mnangagwa said.

"Innovation in the mining industry remains a tool for improving efficiency, reducing costs and efficiently meeting social and environmental costs. It allows for the development of cleaner and more environmentally-friendly solutions.

"We cannot as a country continue to be exporting primary products, including concentrates and ores. Our people must fully enjoy the benefits of moving up the value chains, such as increased profitability and terms of trade as well as employment and empowerment opportunities," he said.