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Masvingo City’s SIMBI Iron Ore Processing Plant: Socioeconomic benefits versus environmental threats.

Journal of Social Development in Africa

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Title Masvingo City’s SIMBI Iron Ore Processing Plant: Socioeconomic benefits versus environmental threats.
 
Creator Mapira, J
 
Subject Environment, iron ore, Masvingo, pollution, diversification, employment, Zimbabwe.
 
Description Masvingo City’s iron ore-processing plant (SIMBI Pvt Ltd) was established in 2004 as the city’s only heavy industry. It delivers sponge iron, coal, steel and oxygen to consumers across Zimbabwe and exports a substantial tonnage of sponge iron to South Africa. The company employs 350 people, and has become a major iron ore processing plant in the country after the Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Corporation (ZISCO) in Kwe  Kwe. This paper, based on data gathered in 2007 and 2008, assesses the role of the iron ore processing plant in promoting the city’s economy and considers the environmental threats, which emanate from the plant’s operations. Sources of data for the paper included: archival research, interviews with key personnel and field observations. Two key findings emerged from the study: firstly, that the plant has succeeded in boosting the city’s of Masvingo’s economy through diversification and employment creation, while exports of sponge iron have earned the country  considerable forex revenue; secondly, it that the existence of the plant in Masvingo city has generated considerable environmental problems, including land degradation, water, air and noise pollution. The paper suggests a number of possible solutions to the environmental challenges triggered by the existence of this plant.Keywords: Environment, iron ore, Masvingo, pollution, diversification, employment, Zimbabwe.
 
Publisher School of Social Work, University of Zimbabwe
 
Contributor —
 
Date 2013-07-03
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
Peer-reviewed Article
 
Format application/pdf
 
Identifier http://www.ajol.info/index.php/jsda/article/view/90233
 
Source Journal of Social Development in Africa; Vol 27, No 2 (2012); 165-188
1012-1080
 
Language eng
 
Relation http://www.ajol.info/index.php/jsda/article/view/90233/79661
 
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