President targets 6.8% economic growth
Despite the ailing economy, President Duma Gideon Boko is determined to revive the fiscal situation faced by the country. Speaking at the reopening of Tataki Mine, he said his administration’s challenge is to create jobs and open up opportunities for young people.
“We want to have this economy grow at no less than a sustained rate of 6.8 percent in order to create the jobs and opportunities that our people need,” said Boko. Meanwhile, the President challenged business and communities in Matsiloje to revive dormant opportunities, banking on the resuscitation of Tataki Mine. “People's hopes and livelihoods were shattered, today with solemn assurances coming from GCR and the government, we will strive to restore the hope that they have lost, generate the opportunities they so desperately need, and grow the economy at the rate that I have indicated to sustain their lives and livelihoods,” said Boko.
Boko said in addition to the Tataki Mine’s polymetallic nature of producing copper, nickel and cobalt, other opportunities exist. He cited that water from the mine will be processed treated and redeployed for agricultural use, rocks emerging from mine blasting will be crushed to make aggregates for road construction. “I think to this end they've already signed some agreements, this is evidence that the economy of this place (North-East District) is now beginning to tick.”