By Portia Muzorava
Communities in mining regions have been urged to actively participate in shaping the country’s mining laws by engaging with the newly gazetted Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill.
This call was made last week during a Community Experts Reflection Meeting held in Harare under the theme: “Positioning Communities to Influence Mining Policy for Equity, Transparency and Sustainability.”
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development,
Remigious Toendepi Matangira, stressed the importance of civic awareness around the Bill. He urged communities in to familiarise themselves with the proposed law and take part in upcoming public hearings, noting that this is a key opportunity for them to voice their needs and concerns.
Matangira highlighted that Silveira House, which has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the government, has a responsibility to educate communities on the Bill. He emphasized that many people lack critical knowledge of their rights and need support to participate meaningfully. He encouraged the organisation to step into the role of a public educator, helping citizens understand that they have the right to petition and influence policies that affect them.
Supporting the same message, MP. Guyo echoed the need for community empowerment, urging Silveira House to intensify its outreach and raise awareness about the contents of the new Bill. He also cautioned mining communities against signing unclear contracts with investors, warning that such decisions often lead to exploitation and legal issues.
Guyo further stressed the need for the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) to conduct more educational campaigns on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) processes, so that communities understand their environmental rights and obligations.
The meeting was coordinated by community experts with support from Silveira House, as part of ongoing efforts to ensure that grassroots voices influence mining policies. The Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill was officially gazetted last week, opening the door for public input as it moves through the legislative process.
